At 11:08 a.m. Central Time, those with eyes fixed on the Sistine Chapel's chimney watched as the white smoke began to billow from the famous rooftop. The faithful who were gathered below immediately began to cheer with many in tears, children included. At that moment, the world was informed the Universal Church had a new shepherd.

Close to an hour later, the doors of the iconic central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica were opened as Cardinal Dominique Mamberti emerged to proclaim, "Habemus papam!" Following the announcement, the Church's 266th successor to St. Peter, St. Leo XIV, emerged.

Much to the shock of American Catholics, the College of Cardinals elected an American, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. The new pope was born in Chicago on Sept. 14, 1955, and in 1977 he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.) in the province of Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Saint Louis. In August of 1981, he gave his solemn vows. 

In his late 20s, he was sent to Rome by his order to study Canon Law. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982 and received his licentiate two years later. In 1985, he was sent by his order to be a missionary in Peru. During those years of his ministry, then Father Prevost served in many different capacities including community prior, director of formation, professor, judicial vicar, provincial prior, and prior general.

In 2014, Pope Francis named him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, and he was ordained a bishop on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Almost a decade later, on Jan. 30, 2023, Pope Francis appointed him as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Later that year in September, Pope Francis named him a cardinal.