He Is Here, Live and Direct from the Vatican: Pope Leo XIV, the First American-Born Pontiff.

He Is Here, Live and Direct from the Vatican: Pope Leo XIV, the First American-Born Pontiff.

With love from ROME! 💖💕💞❤️

The news as it trends.

Ha! And there you have it—as the world awaited the new pope, the Vatican has now elected Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, as the 267th Successor of Peter.

Elected on May 8, 2025, he is the first American-born pope, originally from Chicago, Illinois.

Known for his moderate leadership and global outreach, Pope Leo XIV has long championed social justice, interfaith dialogue, and missionary work in Latin America.

Who Is Pope Leo XIV?

Age: 69 (Born September 14, 1955)

Marital Status: Unmarried (😂 Of course, popes do not marry!)

Education: Villanova University, Catholic Theological Union, Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas

Career: Former Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America

Family: Son of Louis Marius Prevost (French-Italian) and Mildred Martínez (Spanish descent), with two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph

Languages: Fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese

The Impact of His Age on the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV: Remains A Young Leader for the Vatican

At 69 years old, many Catholics interviewed for this post are extremely happy and conclude that Pope Leo XIV is one of the younger popes elected in modern history.

According to records, his relatively younger age suggests the potential for a long tenure, allowing him to implement lasting reforms and shape the Church’s future with stability.

Historically, records show that popes like Pope Pius IX (who served for 31 years, from 1846 to 1878) have had long reigns, while others, like Pope Benedict XVI, chose to resign due to age-related challenges.

The Impact of His Leadership

Analysts say Leo XIV’s energetic leadership could bring years of continuity in Vatican policy, giving him time to strengthen interfaith relations, advocate for social justice, and expand missionary efforts worldwide.

His First Public Appearance

On May 8, 2025, as we type, Pope Leo XIV greeted the world for the first time, granting his Urbi et Orbi blessing to the faithful.

His first public message was shared by Vatican News, capturing the historic moment as crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Yetunde B reports for Yeyetunde’s Blog.

See some of the photos below.

Images / Vatican News / Instagram.