The Vatican has officially announced the election of the new Pope, marking a historic moment for the global Catholic community. Following the conclave in the Sistine Chapel on May 7–8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, emerged as the successor to lead the Church into the future, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.
The conclave, attended by 133 of the 135 eligible cardinal electors, began on May 7, 2025, after the Vatican set the date during general congregations following Pope Francis’ funeral. On the fourth ballot, Prevost secured the required two-thirds majority. White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025, followed by the announcement of “Habemus Papam” from St. Peter’s Basilica, where Pope Leo XIV appeared.
Pope Leo XIV is a 69-year-old Chicago-born American with dual Peruvian citizenship. He is the first U.S. pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. A member of the Augustinian order, he spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru where he served as bishop of Chiclayo and later as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Prevost is known for his commitment to justice, peace, and synodality. He is seen as a centrist who aligns with Pope Francis’ vision of a more inclusive and pastoral Church.
As Pope Leo XIV assumes this sacred role, may his leadership inspire justice, peace, and renewed faith for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Find More on Our Socials
