Newspapers around the world on Friday covered the election of a new pope, Robert Francis Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV, with big photos, plays on words and nods to his nationalities.
Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, made history as the first North American pope, and plenty of tabloids and broadsheets played up his background as an American.
Many newspapers used the Latin phrase тАЬHabemus papam,тАЭ which means тАЬWe have a pope.тАЭ For English newspapers, it was a rare appearance of a foreign phrase in a headline.
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France used that phrase, prompting cheers, after he emerged on the papal balcony of St. PeterтАЩs Basilica to introduce the new pope.
Overwhelmingly, newspapers ran with images of Leo XIV as he greeted the world as pope for the first time, waving to crowds from the papal balcony.
LтАЩOsservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, which is in Italian, had a full-page spread with a Latin headline that translated to: тАЬWe have a Pope. Robert Francis Prevost who gave himself the name Leo XIV.тАЭ
Many foreign outlets highlighted Pope Leo XIVтАЩs American roots.
The Irish Daily Mirror led with тАЬLet U.S. PrayтАЭ and Le Temps, a Swiss French-language newspaper, went with тАЬHabemUS Papam.тАЭ
The Sun, a British tabloid, declared тАЬGod Bless American.тАЭ
Newspapers in Chicago highlighted the pope, who grew up in Dolton, Ill., a Chicago suburb, as a hometown hero.
The Chicago Tribune claimed Pope Leo XIV for the city, writing тАЬChicagoтАЩs pope.тАЭ
The front page of The Chicago Sun-Times read тАЬDA POPE!тАЭ in a cheeky allusion to the Chicago Bears, the football team nicknamed by fans as тАЬDa Bears.тАЭ
The Philadelphia Inquirer, which carried the headline тАЬAn American Pope,тАЭ was quick to note in a subhead that Pope Leo XIV is an alumnus of Villanova University, the Catholic school based in a Philadelphia suburb.
While Corriere della Sera of Milan said тАЬIl Papa americano,тАЭ PeruтАЩs Correo proclaimed тАЬUN PAPA PERUANO.тАЭ
Though Pope Leo XIV is not of Peruvian birth, some in the country have claimed him as one of their own. He lived in Peru as a missionary for many years, before serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru, from 2015 to 2023.
El Mercurio, a Chilean newspaper, compromised in its headline, calling Pope Leo XIV both Peruvian and American. (He is a dual citizen.)
Some newspapers decided to lead with the popeтАЩs papal name instead of his background or nationality.
Plenty of outlets, from Di├бrio de Not├нcias in Portugal and Lib├йration in France, had headlines that said тАЬLeo.тАЭ These outlets chose to publish a more pious posture, picturing Pope Leo XIV with his hands clasped in prayer.
Others quoted Pope Leo XIVтАЩs first message as the leader of the Catholic Church: тАЬтАШPeace be with you,тАЩтАЭ read The San Francisco Chronicle headline.
