Cardinal Robert Prevost has been named Pope Leo XIV by the Roman Catholic Church. Born in Chicago in 1955, he is the first American pope in the Church’s 2,000-year history—though he spent much of his life serving as a missionary in Peru.

Elevated to cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis, Prevost held several key positions under Francis’ leadership, including overseeing the nomination of bishops—a role that placed him at the center of Church governance.

After a historically short, two-day conclave, Pope Leo XIV emerged from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8, addressing Rome in both Spanish and Italian with a message of peace and charity.

He told the crowd gathered in Rome:

“God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail,”
and added,
“We must walk together, hand in hand, to build a just and peaceful world.”
Given Prevost’s close ties to Francis, many are wondering whether he will follow in his predecessor’s footsteps—steps that were often out of sync with conservative Catholic tradition.

Francis frequently drew criticism for prioritizing environmental justice over issues like protection of the unborn, among other controversial stances. In 2013, he famously responded, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about homosexuality. He partnered with Communist China, granting the government influence over bishop appointments; he repeatedly called for open borders; and in 2018, he traveled to the United Arab Emirates to sign a “Human Fraternity” agreement with Islamic leaders—calling for unity between Muslims and Christians, despite theological contradictions between the two faiths.

So, will Prevost take the same path?

His background presents a complex picture.

Prevost is a registered Republican, and his voting record while living in the U.S. suggests a consistent alignment with the party. But, as figures like Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney have shown, party registration does not always equate to a commitment to conservative values.

On social media, Prevost has expressed views that lean anti-Trump. His last post on X before his election was a retweet criticizing Donald Trump’s partnership with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on the deportation of illegal migrants, describing the policy as “disturbing” and “a suffering.” In February, he also retweeted Pope Francis’ critique of Senator JD Vance, a rising conservative voice.

Yet, Prevost has also expressed views that align with traditional Catholic conservatism. He has spoken out against the “promotion of gender ideology,” stating that it “seeks to create genders that don’t exist.” He has also criticized Western media for fostering “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel.”

So, who will Pope Leo XIV choose to be now that he holds one of the most powerful positions in global religion?

They say power corrupts—but it will be up to Prevost to decide whether he will remain faithful to Catholic orthodoxy and conservative values, or walk the progressive path paved by Francis.