Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the new pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the first American pontiff in history. He will be known as Leo XIV.
The identity of the pope and the name he has chosen as pontiff was announced to the world from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti.
The new pope choked back tears as he walked out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time.
“Peace be with all you,” Pope Leo XIV said from the balcony in his first public address.
“We can be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, that is always open to receive everyone — just like in this square, to welcome everyone, in charity, dialogue and love,” Pope Leo XIV said.
Pope Leo XIV sought to continue the blessing the late Pope Francis gave on Easter Sunday, the day before he died.
“Allow me to continue that same blessing: God loves everyone; evil will not prevail,” the new pontiff said. “We are all in the hands of God. So without fear, united hand and hand with God and among ourselves, we go forward.”
President Donald Trump congratulated the new pope in a Truth Social post. “It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” he said.
Pope Leo XIV is originally from Chicago. The 69-year-old American pope of French and Italian descent, was born on September 14, 1955. earned his bachelor’s in mathematics from Villanova University in Pennsylvania and went on to receive his diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago. He has served as President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, he served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalised citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. Until the death of Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally.
A member of the Order of St. Augustine, Pope Leo XIV resembles Francis in his commitment to the poor and migrants and to meeting people where they are. He told the Vatican’s official news website last year that “the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom”.
In the early days of Catholicism, popes simply used their baptismal name, but when Pope John II was elected in 533 A.D., he changed the precedent. John, the most popular name selected among cardinals, has been used 23 times. Gregory has been used 16 times, and Benedict has been chosen 16 times. The only name that is not allowed to be used is Peter, which is an unwritten rule in the Catholic Church, paying respect to the first pope, Saint Peter.
As white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, the bells of St. Peter’s rang out, signalling that a new pope has been chosen by the cardinals, to succeed Pope Francis.
Tradition calls that the new pope, after the election, must decide if he wants to fill the role. Then he enters a chamber in the chapel known as the Room of Tears – named for the emotional reactions of popes who realise their new responsibilities.
The election came after the voting by 133 cardinal electors from 70 nations, who secluded themselves behind the Vatican’s medieval walls on Wednesday afternoon.
During the papal conclave, the cardinals were barred from leaving or having any contact with the outside world as they selected the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
The crowd in St. Peter’s Square cheered and applauded as the first puffs of smoke emerged from a small chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals have been holding their secret ballot. Pope Francis appeared about an hour and 20 minutes after the white smoke was released.
Yesterday evening, after more than three hours, the first inconclusive vote was signalled by black smoke. This morning’s pair of votes was a repeat.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected after four rounds of voting; Francis was elected after five.
(Agencies; Picture Courtesy: AP)
