Expert discusses historic naming of first U.S. pope
For the first time in history, an American has been chosen as leader of the worldwide Catholic Church.
After just two days of consideration, the papal conclave named Robert Prevost of Chicago as the 267th pope. He will be called Pope Leo XIV.
Virginia Tech religion expert Matthew Gabriele discusses this historic choice and its implications.
What are some reasons that the cardinals elected an American pope?
"It’s a big deal that this is the first American pope, but Pope Leo XIV is also a dual citizen in Peru and spent a lot of his career in Latin America. That likely helped his popularity among the cardinals.
"That said, he was no fan of some of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s policies, and he made that known on social media. That likely helped him in the eyes of the cardinals close to [the late] Pope Francis’ legacy as well."
What can Catholics expect from Pope Leo XIV?
"In taking the name Pope Leo XIV, the new pope is signaling his intention to carry on the work of his predecessor, especially with a focus on ministering to the poor, migrants, and other vulnerable populations. Pope Leo XIII, for example, was known as the pope of the workers because he championed the social outreach and justice for vulnerable groups, such as advocating for the right to unions and fair wages at a time of unfettered capitalism.
"In addition, we should note that Cardinal Prevost, in his former position, presided over the commission that forwarded nominations for open bishoprics [office or rank of a bishop]to the pope. When he was appointed to that role, he added three women to that voting group. This was a huge deal as it was the first time in history women were allowed to participate in this way."
Why is the naming of a new pope such a historic moment for the world?
"This was a really interesting moment in which the eyes of the entire world (not just 1.4 billion Catholics) turned to an ancient tradition. We learned not just about the process but some of the ways in which people still care deeply about religion, and how religion shapes the world we live in. The pope is the spiritual leader of all those Catholics, but also the head of a sovereign state that can directly shape world affairs by speaking out as a moral voice for compassion, empathy, and justice. That’s what this process has shown — that politics and religion are intertwined, and they can impact people’s everyday lives in profound ways."
About Gabriele
Matthew Gabriele is a professor of medieval studies in the Department of Religion and Culture at Virginia Tech. His research and teaching explore religion, violence, nostalgia, and apocalypse, whether manifested in the Middle Ages or the modern world. This includes events and ideas such as the Crusades, the so-called Terrors of the Year 1000, and medieval religious and political life.
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