HABEMUS PAPAM: LEO XIV

The Roman Catholic Church has a new Pope. American Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost was elected in the third round of voting by 133 cardinals from 70 nations on the second day of the conclave in the Sistine Chapel at Vatican City Italy. Now known as Pope Leo XIV, the 69 year old is the first pontiff from USA in the 2000 years history of the Roman Catholic Church. He succeeds the late Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday April 21, 2025 aged 88.

News of the new pope’s election came on Thursday, May 8, 2025 a few minutes after 7PM (EAT) when White smoke –fumata bianca – billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, signaling to the world that the 267th pope had been determined. After election the new pope was ushered to the Room of Tears, near the Sistine Chapel, where he wore the papal cassock for the first time.

The announcement –Habemus Papam- We have a Pope- to thousands who had gathered at St. Peters Basilica was made by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti. In his inaugural address to the world from the iconic Vatican balcony, Pope Leo XIV said he was a member of the Augustinian Order and spoke fondly of his predecessor Pope Francis. “We still hear in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis who blessed us,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago, USA on September 14, 1955 to Louis Marius Prevost and Mildred Martinez.  He served as an altar boy and was ordained priest on  June 19, 1982. Thereafter, he spent many years in Peru as a missionary and became an archbishop there. He was elevated to the college of cardinals on September 30, 2023. Prior to his election as Pope, Cardinal Prevost was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America, which has the important task of electing and supervising bishops.