New Pope Leo XIV is American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost

(Patria) - American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new Pope. His papal name will be Leo XIV.

The Cardinal announced at 7:13 PM from the balcony: "Habemus papa".

With white smoke above the Sistine Chapel and the ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica this afternoon, the citizens of Rome and the world were informed that the 267th head of the Roman Catholic Church, the successor to Pope Francis, has been elected.

After the white smoke was released, great excitement erupted in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Bells were also heard.

The new Pope was elected by 133 cardinal electors under the age of 80.

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New Pope Elected!

(Patria) - White smoke appeared this afternoon above the Sistine Chapel, meaning the cardinals have elected the 267th head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope should soon go to

Pope Francis died on April 21st after leading the 1.4 billion-member Church for 12 years.

During his pontificate, he sought to open a conservative institution to the modern world, introducing a series of reforms and allowing discussions on controversial issues such as the ordination of women and better inclusion of LGBT Catholics.

The cardinals held an initial vote last night without a final result, followed by two more this morning. They returned to the Sistine Chapel at 4 PM, and white smoke appeared around 6:08 PM.

During the conclave, the cardinals were isolated from the world and swore an oath of secrecy; their phones and computers were confiscated, while they were shuttled between the Sistine Chapel for voting and two Vatican guesthouses for sleeping and dining.

During the conclave, their only communication with the outside world was through the smoke coming from the chimney – black if the Pope had not been elected, and white if a new Pope had been elected by a two-thirds majority.

Who is the new Pope?

The new Pope is Robert Prevost. He has taken the name Leo XIV.

Robert Francis Prevost is an American cardinal and a member of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago.

He graduated with a degree in mathematics from Villanova University and then earned a master's degree in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Afterward, he completed his licentiate and doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.

He was ordained a priest in 1982 and was sent as a missionary to Peru in 1985, where he spent nearly two decades.

There, he held various pastoral and educational positions, including prior, professor, and judicial vicar.

In 1999, he was elected provincial of the Augustinians in the USA, and in 2001, he became the prior general of the entire order, a position he held until 2013.

Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru in 2014, and its official bishop in 2015.

In January 2023, he was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, the body responsible for appointing bishops worldwide, and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

In September of the same year, Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal.