The Roman Catholic Church elected a new Pope on Thursday evening as white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and bells rung from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, as thousands erupted in cheers at the St Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was elected the 267th pope after two days of deliberations at the papal conclave. The first American to be elected Pope, he chose the name Pope Leo XIV as he appeared at the Sistine Chapel balcony after his election.
In his first remarks delivered in Italian, Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that his message of peace would be “enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.” Honouring his predecessor, Pope Francis, he encouraged the faithful to “move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.” He also expressed gratitude to his fellow cardinals for choosing him with the role.
Prevost received at least 89 of the 133 votes cast by the College of Cardinals during the conclave to succeed Pope Francis. His election comes despite the Vatican’s long hesitation over picking a pope from the US, largely due to the country’s global power and strong secular culture, The Guardian reports.
The Chicago-born pontiff was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023 and served in one of the Vatican’s top offices, the Dicastery for Bishops which plays a major role in choosing bishops around the world. Prior to that, he led the Augustinian order and worked for years in Peru as Bishop of Chiclayo, giving him both leadership experience and global perspective.
Pope Leo election comes weeks after the death of Pope Francis. Francis was the first Latin American pope, led the Church for 12 years and was known for his efforts to modernise the institution. As per a Reuters report, ahead of the papal conclave, some cardinals advocated for continuing Francis’ progressive approach, while others preferred a return to more traditional values.
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