Robert Francis Prevost made history on Thursday as the first American elected pope, taking the name Leo XIV after a conclave of cardinals selected him to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Cheers erupted in St. Peter’s Square as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, signaling a successful vote on the conclave’s second day. Moments later, Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, smiling and waving as he greeted the crowd with: “Peace be with you.”
The 67-year-old Chicago-born priest succeeds Pope Francis, the Argentine reformer who died last month at age 88. Prevost, a former missionary and Vatican official, now faces the enormous task of unifying a divided Church and addressing global conflicts and scandals, including the lingering fallout from clerical sexual abuse.
A historic moment
“Habemus Papam!” — “We have a pope!” — rang out as Cardinal Protodeacon announced Leo XIV to the world. Jubilant crowds waved flags, sang, and recorded the moment on their phones. One priest waved a Brazilian flag from someone’s shoulders while another held a crucifix aloft in celebration.
“I’m not deeply religious, but this is an unforgettable moment,” said Joseph Brian, a visitor from Belfast. “Just being here blew me away.”
Operation of the conclave
The papal election took place behind closed doors with 133 cardinals — the most diverse conclave in Church history — casting secret ballots. By tradition, the new pope donned his white cassock in the “Room of Tears” before returning to the Sistine Chapel to receive pledges of obedience from his fellow cardinals.
Though the number of voting rounds remains secret, the conclave wrapped up in under two days, similar to past elections — Benedict XVI was elected in four ballots in 2005; Francis in five ballots in 2013.
Challenges ahead
Pope Leo XIV assumes the papacy during a time of geopolitical instability, internal Church division, and declining attendance in Western countries. He will need to balance pastoral care and diplomacy, navigate ideological rifts, and reassert the Vatican’s moral voice on the global stage.
The late Pope Francis was praised for his compassion and emphasis on social justice but faced criticism from traditionalists who felt the Church’s doctrine was being sidelined.
The new pontiff will be formally inaugurated within a week, with a mass attended by world leaders. He is expected to tour St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile before delivering a homily outlining his vision for the Church.
AFP
