A new pope has been elected and he is American.
The College of Cardinals have chosen Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, on the evening of May 8 on the third overall vote of the conclave.
Prevost has chosen to take the name Pope Leo XIV.
White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and bells rang out from St. Peter’s Basilica Thursday evening. It signaled that the secret vote among the 133 cardinal electors—representing dozens of nations from all over the world—had reached the necessary two-thirds majority and that the chosen man had accepted the position.
This was the most populous conclave in history, and the cardinals reached their selection on the second day of conclave.
More than an hour later, cheers erupted from the hundreds of thousands of faithful packing the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square who heard the proto deacon’s long-awaited Latin declaration, “Habemus Papam!” which means “We have a pope,” confirming to the world that the Roman Catholic Church has a new leader. The Church has been in a period of “sede vacante,” meaning “the seat is vacant,” since Pope Francis died on April 21.
Pope Leo XIV, 69, is a native of Chicago but spent a significant amount of his ministry in Latin America, coming to the conclave as the Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru.
He was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America by Pope Francis on Jan. 30, 2023.
Between the two events, tens of thousands of faithful from all over the world filled St. Peter’s Square and the Via Della Conciliazione beyond the city’s borders, waving flags, singing “Salve Regina,” and chanting phrases such as “Viva el Papa”—”Long live the Pope.”
Behind the walls of the Vatican, a specific process was underway. The vote was confirmed, the new pope was formally offered the Throne of St. Peter, and then asked which saint’s name he wishes to take as his papal name.
The new pope’s acceptance of the election marked the immediate end of the conclave “unless he decides otherwise,” according to the Vatican.
It was at this point that any outsiders who needed to discuss immediate matters, such as the interim Secretary of State and Secretary for Relations with States may enter the Sistine Chapel.
The new pope was taken to a small room next to the Sistine Chapel, the “Room of Tears,” to don the white papal vestments for the first time. It is called the “Room of Tears” because the newly appointed pontiff often becomes overwhelmed with emotion.
He then returned to the Sistine Chapel to take his seat for a brief ceremony, in which the senior Cardinal priest read a passage from the Gospel.
The protodeacon offered a prayer for the newly elected pope and each of the cardinals inside took an oath of allegiance to the new supreme pontiff.
The new pope then sang a hymn called the Te Deum, and proceeded to the Loggia, the second story balcony position above the doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, stopping at the Pauline Chapel to pray before the Eucharist.