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How Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW POPES ARE ELECTED

The first U.S. pope is already making history. Here's how.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost folds his hands and smiles softly. He wears a red and white robe.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GUGLIELMO MANGIAPANE/REUTERS/REDUX

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV—was a surprise choice to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. How did this relatively dark-horse candidate become the 267th man to hold the office? Here's what we know about his life, how he differs from Pope Francis, and how much change we might see.

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A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW POPES ARE ELECTED

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The first U.S. ﻿pope is already making history. Here's how.

MORE ON THE CHURCH

The first U.S. pope is already making history. Here's how.