LIMA (Reuters) - In the Peruvian coastal city of Chiclayo, some 5,000 kilometers (3,000 miles) from new Pope Leo XIV's hometown of Chicago, Catholics took to the streets and church bells rang on Thursday to celebrate the election of the former missionary who they embrace as one of their own.

The United States was often deemed too powerful — militarily, diplomatically, and even culturally — for one of its own to control one of the world’s most influential seats of moral authority: the Roman Catholic Church and its flock,

Francis, the first Latin American pope, clearly had his eye on Prevost and in many ways saw him as his heir apparent. He sent Prevost, who had spent years as a missionary in Peru, to take over a complicated diocese there in 2014.

“Holy Father, you had me at ‘JD Vance is wrong,’” Colbert quipped as the studio audience roared with cheers.

I’m truly surprised, I did not expect to have an American Pope in my lifetime,” said Kari Kloos, interim vice president for mission at Regis University. “I am very pleasa

In a stunning decision, the Catholic College of Cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in the U.S., leading to celebrations worldwide.

Leaders called the decision from the conclave “a powerful moment for the Catholic Church — and for American Catholics.”

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Though Leo XIV is from Chicago, his election to the papacy reflects the move of Christianity toward the Global South.