When the 2025 conclave opened, few observers predicted an American pope. By the time it concluded, Cardinal Robert Prevost had been elected and took the name Pope Leo. Here’s an inside look at how “Bob” became Pope Leo.
Pope Leo had been a surprising outcome for many cardinals, journalists and Catholics around the world. The conclave that followed the April 26, 2025 funeral of Pope Francis produced an unexpected result: the selection of Prevost, a U.S. cardinal, as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Prevost’s election marked the first time an American was chosen to lead the Vatican in the papal office. Throughout the conclave, conversations and negotiations among the electors moved in ways few anticipated, ultimately coalescing around Prevost’s candidacy.
Those close to the process described the deliberations as intense, with cardinals balancing theological concerns, pastoral experience and the church’s global needs. Prevost’s supporters portrayed him as a unifying figure whose background and approach appealed across regional and ideological lines within the College of Cardinals.
The choice of the papal name Leo continued a long tradition of new popes selecting a regnal name that signals themes they wish to emphasize in their pontificate. By choosing Leo, Prevost signaled continuity with certain historical papal priorities while also marking a new chapter for the church under an American pope.
Prevost was seen in St. Peter’s Square attending Pope Francis’ funeral on April 26, 2025, a moment that preceded his election less than a month later.
The 2025 conclave and the emergence of Pope Leo underscore how quickly expectations can shift in Vatican politics. What began as a contest with no clear American frontrunner ended with the College of Cardinals coalescing around Prevost, elevating him to a historic first for U.S. Catholics and a consequential new leader for the global church.
Source: npr.org
