Baltimore’s Catholic community is celebrating the historic election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American to be chosen as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope’s appointment has special meaning in Baltimore, a city rich in Catholic tradition.
Baltimore is home to the first Catholic diocese and archdiocese in the United States, and the iconic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—the first Catholic cathedral built in the country. This deep heritage gives added significance to the election of an American pope.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV brings a global perspective shaped by his missionary work in Peru, where he also served as bishop. He holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Peru and is known for his commitment to social justice, care for the poor, and inclusion—values embraced by many in Baltimore’s diverse Catholic population.
In his first address from the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV emphasized themes of peace, unity, and compassion. His words echoed the hopes of American Catholics and signaled a continuation of the reform-minded spirit of Pope Francis.
For Baltimore Catholics, this moment is both personal and historic. Pride in their American heritage and the Church’s evolving global identity has inspired renewed faith and energy across the archdiocese. The appointment of Pope Leo XIV has connected the city’s deep Catholic roots with a new era in Church leadership.
