After 36 hours of voting, the world was finally presented with a new Pontiff and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Conclave (selection of a new Pope) begun on Wednesday with 133 Cardinal electors matching into the Sistine Chapel to hold the crucial voting. Three consecutive unsuccessful ballots were indicated by the black smoke, signifying that there was no Pope yet.
However on the evening of Thursday, a white Smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel announcing to the world that the college of Cardinals had chosen St. Peter’s successor.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists thronged the St Peter’s Square, filled with joy and eager to see for the first time who the new Pope was.
As per the tradition of announcing a new Pope, senior cardinal Dominique Mamberti, came out on to the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica and confirmed the election of Pope Francis’ succesor.
Announcing the news, he said the famous Latin words “Habemus Papam”, meaning “we have a pope,” amid cheers from the crowd. He then revealed the name.
The 69-year-old and Chicago born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost will take the Papal name, Leo XIV. He is the first American Pope.
In his first public words as Pope, he said, “may peace be with all of you.” Speaking of Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, the pontiff said: “The pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning. So let us follow up that blessing.”
He then added: “Together, we must try to find out how to be a missionary church, a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogues.
“That’s always open to receive, on this piazza with open arms, to be able to receive everybody that needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.” He spoke in Latin.
The election of Pope Leo XIV came after the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025, from stroke and heart failure. He was buried on April 27, with more than 200,000 faithful attending his funeral.
