Pope Newly elected Leone XIV appears on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Andrew Medichini / AP
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Andrew Medichini / AP
Vatican City – American cardinal Robert Prévost was elected Pope, the first time an American managed the Roman Catholic church. Provost, 69, chose the name Pope Leo XIV.
Publisher’s note: It is a story in development. An earlier version continues below.
White smoke extended from a fireplace at the top of the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the world that the 133 Catholic Roman cardinals inside elected a new pope.
A roar broke out of the crowd when they saw the white smoke swinging the fireplace, which is shown on several large screens of Place Saint-Pierre. At the same time, the huge bells of the Saint-Pierre basilica began to ring, shooting the news that the Catholic church has a new pope. The crowd continues to build so many flags in their country.
The identity of the new pontiff is not yet known. Vatican officials should announce its name in Latin from the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica shortly.
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, a 73 -year -old Frenchman born in Morocco, should make this announcement – unless he himself is elected Pope.
Then, the new pope himself will appear and speak to the crowd.
Rome is overflowing with excitement, while thousands of people come together near the Via Della Concilaazione to be a historic moment when the new Pope is announced and presented to the world.
While the 1.4 billion Catholics in the world await the emergence of the new church head on the famous Loggia, a series of rituals take place.
Once a successful vote finished, the most senior cardinal asks the newly elected Pope: “Do you accept your canonical election as a supreme pontiff?”
After accepting, he is asked then: “What name would you like to be called?”
Cardinal voters then pay tribute and engage in obedience to the new chief of the church, and thanks are given to God while the new pope is taken to a sacristy and equipped with papal outfits.
Finally, the declaration is made in Latin – “VOBIS GAUDIUM MAGNUM annent: HABEMUS PAPAM!” (“I bring you news of great joy: we have a pope!”) – And the new pope gives an apostolic blessing to the crowds of faithful.
The new pontiff was chosen by 133 cardinal voters by a majority of two thirds.
