The smoke above the Vatican is white. On Thursday evening local time, Robert Francis Prevost was elected as the new Pope. The 69-year-old took the name Leo XIV, the first Leo in over a hundred years. While Catholics worldwide celebrated him, some were less than happy. On social media, Leo are now being criticized by MAGA supporters.

Only two days after the conclave of Catholic cardinals met in Vatican City and looked themselves in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, the smoke on top of the building was white; a new pope had been elected. American Robert Prevost appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to the roar of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square. He took the name Leo XIV, meaning 13 popes before him have chosen.

Opening up with CBS, Dennis Doyle, a theologian and professor emeritus of religious studies at the University of Dayton, explained that a pope’s name indicates “a certain spirit and direction and vision of the new pope.”

“The first thing that you would look for would be, which popes had that name before?” he said. “That would signify something about the direction that the pope wants to take.”

According to CBS papal contributor Candida Moss, the name Leo can be traced back to Pope Leo the Great. He held his papacy from 440 to 461 and famously met with Attila the Hun and talked him out of attacking Rome.

“What does this mean for our new Pope? Well, it might mean that he, too, is going to stand up to oppressive political forces in the world,” Moss told CBS, adding that Leo is known as a “great intellectual and theological reformer. “

Pope Leo XIV

When appearing on the balcony, Pope Leo XIV held a ceremonial speech to Catholics worldwide, beginning with the words, “Peace be with you.”

“Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.”, Leo continued.

“This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.”

Additionally, Pope Leo XIV thanked his “cardinal brothers” for choosing him as Pope. He sent a special greeting to the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as Bishop between 2014 and 2023.

“To all the faithful here present, and to all those who receive his blessing through the radio, through television, and other technologies of communication. You can recognise him in the way recognised by the church,” the Pope concluded. “Let us hope that he’s preserved for a long time and ensure peace to the church throughout the world.”

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV made history as the first American Pope. So, who is he? Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 14, 1955, Prevost grew up in the suburb of Dalton. Although not much is known about his childhood, in an interview with NBC Chicago, the Pope’s brother, John, said it was “normal.” It appears Pope Leo XIV had his life planned out from a very early age.

“I think he knew it by first grade that he was going to be a priest. And there was no question in anyone’s mind. I think the question that our parents had was, would you be a diocesan priest and work at a parish, or would you be an order priest. Which he chose, Augustinian,” John Prevost, the Pope’s brother, said.

Pope Leo decided to leave his normal childhood behind and left for an Augustinian Seminary.

“He went right from high school seminary, and then Augustinian College at Villanova, and then the year of theology. So he wasn’t home a lot, except for summer vacations,” the Pope’s brother continued, adding that despite being the youngest, Leo usually gave them advice. “It’s usually the other way around; he gives the advice to us.”

In an interview with the Italian network Rai before his election, Pope Leo XIV said that he grew up in an immigrant family.

“I was born in the United States… But my grandparents were all immigrants, French, Spanish… I was raised in a very Catholic family, both of my parents were very engaged in the parish,” he said.

“He maintains good humour and joy”

Prevost holds American and Peruvian citizenship, which will affect his career within the church. He gave his vows in 1981 and studied in Rome. After that, he was sent on a mission to Peru and stayed there for many years. In 2014, he was appointed bishop of Ciclayo in Peru.

According to The Guardian, Rev Fidel Purisaca Vigil, the communications director for Prevost’s old diocese in Chiclayo, Pope Leo XIV was a calm and grounded leader. He always sat down with fellow priests after morning prayer to eat breakfast.

“No matter how many problems he has, he maintains good humour and joy,” Rev Fidel Purisaca Vigil told the Associated Press.

Another person who spoke about Leo is his former roommate, Reverend John Lyndon. He lived with the Pope for a decade in Peru and told the BBC that he was an “outstanding” and “down-to-earth” person who loved singing and cooking.