The current pope as of May 2025 is Pope Leo XIV, who was elected on May 8, 2025, during the 2025 papal conclave. He is the first American-born pope and took the name Leo XIV upon his election
. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost, is 69 years old and has strong ties to Latin America due to his extensive missionary work in Peru. He was elevated to archbishop in 2023 and made a cardinal by Pope Francis shortly before the conclave. His election is seen as a continuation of many of Pope Francis' reforms and perspectives, particularly on issues such as migrants, the poor, and the environment
. Pope Francis, who passed away in April 2025, was the previous pope and served from 2013 until his death. He was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas
