Here's how Pope Leo XIV has already made history
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Pope Leo XIV was named on Thursday as the first pontiff from the United States.
Why it matters: The surprising choice is now the second consecutive pope from the Americas.
- He's also the Catholic Church's first Augustinian pope.
Zoom out: The majority of popes have been from a version of what is now modern-day Italy.
- Pope Francis, who hailed from Argentina, was the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.
- Newly selected Robert Prevost is a Chicago native.
France is the second-most common location for papal ancestry, according to PopeHistory.com.
- Three popes have come from the African continent, all of whom were associated with the Roman Empire, per the World Population Review.
Between the lines: Ahead of the conclave, scholars said a U.S.-born pope would be unlikely, Axios' Carrie Shepherd previously reported.
- An American pope could give the U.S. more world influence than it already has, Loyola University scholar Michael Canaris said.
- With surging Catholicism in Asia and Africa, Filipino Cardinal Luis Tagle and Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson were on the radar as gateways to the regions, Axios' Russell Contreras previously reported.
Behind the scenes: Betting markets previously predicted the next pope would be Pietro Parolin from Italy (37% probability), Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines (26%) or Pierbattista Pizzaballa from Italy (10%).
- Prediction markets did not forecast Prevost's selection.
Go deeper:
- Papal conclave ends on second day, in line with two centuries of tradition
- In photos: First American pope, Robert Prevost, named in Vatican
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional reporting.
