Cardinal Robert Prevost became the first American Pope elected in the Catholic Church’s history Thursday, opting to take the name Pope Leo XIV as he steps into his new role.

The name was revealed to the world just moments before the 69-year-old new pontiff appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the tens of thousands of Catholic faithful gathered in the square with remarks in Italian, Spanish and Latin.

His decision to be known as Leo XIV seems to be both a nod to St. Leo the Great and a way to honor his namesake predecessor, Pope Leo XIII.

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