In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Robert Francis Prevost, a moderate and close ally of Pope Francis, has been elected as the 267th pope. Prevost, who spent years as a missionary in Peru, will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!As the new pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, tens of thousands of people packed into St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers. Prevost waved with both hands, smiling and bowing, before greeting the crowd with the words, “Peace be with you.”
The election was announced earlier through the traditional white smoke signal from the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals had gathered for a secret conclave. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica and churches across Rome also rang out to mark the occasion.
The crowd’s reaction was euphoric, with one priest sitting on someone’s shoulders waving a Brazilian flag and another lifting a heavy crucifix into the air. Many recorded the historic moment on their phones, while others shouted “Viva Il Papa!” – “Long live the pope!” in Italian.
As the new pope, Prevost faces significant challenges, including uniting a divided Church and tackling issues such as the ongoing fallout from the sexual abuse scandal. He must also assert his moral voice on a conflict-torn global stage.
The conclave, which began on Wednesday afternoon, saw 133 cardinals from five continents participate in the voting process. After two rounds of voting, the white smoke signaled that a new pope had been elected.
According to tradition, the new pope will now don a papal cassock for the first time in the Room of Tears before appearing on the balcony to address the crowd. The senior cardinal will announce “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”), and the pope will give a short speech and impart his first “Urbi et Orbi” (“To the City and the World”) blessing.
The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a new era for the Catholic Church, and the world waits with anticipation to see how he will lead the faithful in the years to come.