A new pope has been elected and he was born in Chicago.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, on Thursday became the first pope who is from the U.S.

The new pontiff took the name Leo XIV.

Here's what we know so far about Prevost's ties to Chicago and the Land of Lincoln.

Local response

Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield released a statement expressing profound joy and deep gratitude to God for the election.

"This moment fills the hearts of the faithful with renewed hope, as the Church receives a new Vicar of Christ, a shepherd to lead us in truth, charity, and love. We give thanks for Pope XIV’s humble acceptance of this sacred responsibility.

“While I do not know him, as a fellow Chicagoan, his appointment brings an extra joy to me.”

Chicago ties

He attended Villanova University and Catholic Theological Union in Chicago before earning a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, USA Today reported.

Ordained in 1982, Prevost spent much of his clerical life in Peru, serving as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, reported the National Catholic Reporter.

Before that, he served as a parish pastor and diocesan official in the Augustinian mission beginning in 1985. After a short stint in Chicago in 1987, he returned to Peru.

Prevost was appointed as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops (formerly known as the Congregation for Bishops) by Pope Francis in 2023, an important role from which he advised the pope on bishop appointments worldwide. He was also named president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America in 2023.

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at [email protected] .