This is a major development from Vatican City as the papal conclave has concluded. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, hailing from the United States, has been elected as the new Pope, taking the papal name Leo XIV. His election comes as a surprise, marking him as the first American Pope in history.
The announcement was made approximately 70 minutes after white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square that the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the global Catholic community, which has over 1.4 billion members.
As tradition dictates, French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti proclaimed "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope), revealing the name of the newly elected pontiff. Shortly after, Pope Leo XIV appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to greet the crowd and make his first appearance as the new head of the Church.
At 69 years old, Prevost is originally from Chicago and has spent the majority of his ecclesiastical career working as a missionary in Peru. Despite his influential role, he has remained a relatively private figure, granting few media interviews and rarely speaking in public. Prevost was named a cardinal only in 2023, making his election to the papacy even more interesting and remarkable.
Leo XIV succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month. Francis, the first Latin American Pope, led the Catholic Church for 12 years, during which he was known for his progressive reforms and efforts to modernize the Church. His tenure saw groundbreaking debates on contentious issues, including women's ordination and the inclusion of LGBT Catholics.