R obert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, made history on Thursday, May 8, when he was elected as the first American Pope. The Chicago native, who has spent many years serving as a missionary in Peru, took to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and addressed the cheering crowd, speaking in Spanish and Italian.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass on Sunday near the tomb of St. Peter, hours before he was to deliver his first Sunday noon blessing from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.