In a historic and unprecedented moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Robert Prevost, a Chicago native and member of the Augustinian Order, has been elected as the new pope. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, he becomes the 267th pontiff and, most notably, the first ever born in the United States. His election follows the death of Pope Francis just over two weeks ago and marks a new chapter in Vatican history—one that has already caught the attention of notable figures from across the globe, including from the world of sports.
Among those reacting to the groundbreaking development is Brad Gilbert, former tennis coach to legends like Andre Agassi and Coco Gauff. Though Gilbert is Jewish, he shared CNBC’s announcement of the new pope on his X (formerly Twitter) account, applauding the appointment of an American to the highest spiritual office in Catholicism. His reaction highlights the far-reaching cultural significance of the moment—a convergence of religion, history, and national pride.
The election process was surprisingly swift by Vatican standards. The papal conclave—where cardinals from around the world convene in the Sistine Chapel to cast secret ballots—lasted just two days. On the evening of May 8, white smoke emerged from the chapel’s chimney, signaling to the world that a new pope had been chosen. Not long after, it was revealed that Robert Prevost had been elected and had chosen the name Leo XIV, continuing the Church’s centuries-old tradition of adopting a papal name with symbolic and spiritual significance.
Pope Leo XIV brings a unique background to the papacy. Though born and raised in Chicago, he spent much of his clerical life serving in Peru, where he was deeply involved in missionary work and community leadership. His extensive time in Latin America has endowed him with a multicultural perspective that many see as an asset in today’s global church. His experience as a bridge-builder between cultures could be pivotal in uniting a diverse and evolving Catholic congregation that spans every continent.
His election also marks a significant cultural milestone for American Catholics, who make up a substantial portion of the global Church but have never before seen one of their own rise to the papacy. That a pope hails from Chicago—a major American city known for its ethnic and religious diversity—only adds to the symbolic weight of this moment.
Brad Gilbert’s reaction, though brief, underscores the far-reaching nature of this event. As someone outside the Catholic faith, his recognition of the appointment’s historical importance illustrates how the selection of a new pope transcends religion and enters the realm of global cultural impact. Gilbert, known for his sharp tennis commentary and colorful personality, often uses his platform to highlight major world events, and this was no exception.
Pope Leo XIV now begins his leadership of over 1 billion Catholics worldwide. As the spiritual successor to St. Peter, he faces the immense responsibility of guiding the Church through modern challenges while remaining rooted in centuries of tradition. How his American background and international experience will shape his papacy remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: history has been made.