We should officially be allowed to leave work because it’s Pope Day, people! After what felt like literal eons of black smoke (it was a whole two days, to be exact), WE FINALLY GOT WHITE SMOKE emerging from the Sistine Chapel on May 8! That, of course, means there’s a new pope in town, the town being Rome. This major news comes a few weeks after Pope Francis tragically died on Easter Monday (may the progressive icon RIP <3). Those of us who watched Conclave and got a little too invested in the Oscar-nominated movie have been obsessively following any and all updates on the election process since his death. So, it’s a relief to finally get the news that the Roman Catholic cardinals have elected the next leader. Because, ya know, the pope affects my life so much as a jew.

The new pope is Robert Prevost from Chicago! Yes, you read that right. We have an American pope. So, who is Cardinal Robert Prevost, you ask? What’s his deal? I share your urgent curiosity, and that’s why I’m conducting thorough research as we speak: Here’s everything we know about the new pope so far.

Who Is The New Pope? Robert Prevost/Pope Leo XIV: Age, Details

Everything To Know About Pope Leo XIV

We just got the announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica; Robert will be known as Pope Leo XIV, and he’s the first-ever American pontiff in history. At 69, he’s honestly a spring chicken. (For context, Pope Francis was 88 when he died.) According to CNN, Robert is a “leader with global experience” and has spent most of his career serving as a missionary in South America and as a bishop in Peru. He also led a Vatican office for bishop appointments. Pope Leo XIV shared his first message to the public, “Peace be with you.”

Unfortunately, he’s expressed anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs in the past, so I don’t claim him… Per The New York Times, Robert previously criticized media that held “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,” including the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.” This was in 2012.

How was the pope chosen? Well, 135 eligible cardinals participated in what’s known as a conclave. (You would know this if you watched the damn movie.) It’s super secret… These cardinals had no contact with the outside world during the process, and we’ll never find out who they voted for. 

We’ll learn much more about Pope Leo in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.