On This Day
·

Cardinal Robert Prevost (69) is elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic church, the first American to hold the office

Cardinal Robert Prevost (69) is elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic church, the first American to hold the office takes the name of Pope Leo XIV [1]

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst, September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. He is the first pope to have been born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenships, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second (after his immediate predecessor Pope Francis) from the Americas.

Prevost was born in Chicago and raised in the neighboring suburb of Dolton. He became a friar in the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained as a priest in 1982. He earned a Doctor of Canon Law (JCD) degree in 1987 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

Historical Significance

Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst, September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.

Key People

Pope Leo XIV

– present

Events Before

  1. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Japan's western coast, killing an estimated 120 people and injuring more than 100

    A magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes Japan's western coast, killing an estimated 120 people and injuring more than 100

  2. English singer Elton John wins an Emmy Award for the television special "Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium", comp

    English singer Elton John wins an Emmy Award for the television special "Elton John: Farewell From Dodger Stadium", completing his EGOT (winning all four major American entertainment awards)

  3. Denis Villeneuve's science fiction film epic "Dune: Part Two" premieres in Mexico City, starring Timothée Chalamet and a

    Denis Villeneuve's science fiction film epic "Dune: Part Two" premieres in Mexico City, starring Timothée Chalamet and an ensemble cast

  4. LeBron James becomes the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 regular-season points as his LA Lakers slip to a 12

    LeBron James becomes the first player in NBA history to score 40,000 regular-season points as his LA Lakers slip to a 124-114 defeat to Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles

  5. New rule limiting tailpipe pollution aimed at greatly expanding electric vehicles in the US is announced by President Jo

    New rule limiting tailpipe pollution aimed at greatly expanding electric vehicles in the US is announced by President Joe Biden [1]

Events After

  1. 9,500-year-old cremation pyre is discovered in Malawi, believed to be the oldest in the world containing adult remains [

    9,500-year-old cremation pyre is discovered in Malawi, believed to be the oldest in the world containing adult remains [1]

  2. Australian-American actress Nicole Kidman (58) divorces second husband, Australian country music singer-songwriter Keith

    Australian-American actress Nicole Kidman (58) divorces second husband, Australian country music singer-songwriter Keith Urban (58), after 19 years of marriage

  3. 18-year-old Luke Littler claims back-to-back titles with a commanding 7-1 win over Dutchman Gian van Veen in the World D

    18-year-old Luke Littler claims back-to-back titles with a commanding 7-1 win over Dutchman Gian van Veen in the World Darts Championship final in London

  4. Cleveland DE Myles Garrett sets new NFL sack record when he takes down Bengals QB Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the se

    Cleveland DE Myles Garrett sets new NFL sack record when he takes down Bengals QB Joe Burrow for his 23rd sack of the season during the Browns' 20-18 win in Cincinnati

  5. Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, tasked with distributing government funding to public television and r

    Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, tasked with distributing government funding to public television and radio broadcasters since 1967, votes to dissolve itself after Congress canceled previously approved funding

More from the 2020s

Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

Pro-Iranian protesters end siege of US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq

Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maxim

Scotland's Peter Wright beats Dutch defending champion Michael Van Gerwen 7-3 with a 102.79 average, 34 x 140s, 11 maximums, and 53% on doubles to seal his first PDC World Darts Championship in London

Cuba's "day zero" unifies its two currencies by withdrawing the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), alongside steep increases

Cuba's "day zero" unifies its two currencies by withdrawing the Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), alongside steep increases in prices and salaries, effectively devaluing the remaining Cuban Peso for the first time since 1959 [1]

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; h

Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan becomes the first player in NBA history to hit buzzer-beaters on consecutive days; he hits 3-pointers to beat the Washington Wizards 120-119 and the previous night the Indiana Pacers 108-106

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 8, 2025?
Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst, September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. He is the first pope to have been born in the United States, the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenships, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the second (after his immediate predecessor Pope Francis) from the Americas.
Why is Cardinal Robert Prevost (69) is elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic chu... significant?
Pope Leo XIV (born Robert Francis Prevost, pronounced PREE-vohst, September 14, 1955) is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City.
Who was involved in Cardinal Robert Prevost (69) is elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic chu...?
Key figures include Pope Leo XIV.

Explore More

May 8 in HistoryYear 2025