At approximately 6:15 CET on Thursday, May 8, 2025, white smoke began to billow out of the sistine chapel chimney. On the second day, and the fourth ballot of the Papal Conclave, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois was elected to become the 267th Bishop Of Rome. The successor of Saint Peter takes on the difficult responsibility of shepherding the Catholic Church. As Roman Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV holds supremacy over all of the Church.

White Smoke appears from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/08/world/video/pope-white-smoke-vatican-digvid

The College of Cardinals, despite their unfamiliarity with one another, shocked the world as they came to a consensus two-thirds majority just over 24 hours from when the first vote took place yesterday.

An American Pope:

As the first American Pope, Leo XIV was the Prior General of The Order of Saint Augustine from 2001-2013 and then Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru from 2013-2023. Most recently, Pope Leo XIV was prefect of the Dicastery of Bishops from 2023-2025. He was Born in Chicago, Illinois. The new Bishop of Rome becomes the first American-born cardinal and Augustinian cardinal to be elected to the papacy. The election of an American comes as a shock to the world as any American was seen as a long shot to ascend to the See of Peter.

Pope Leo XIV Addresses Crowd in St. Peters Square

https://www.detroitcatholic.com/news/breaking-chicago-native-cardinal-prevost-elected-pope-takes-name-leo-xiv

The 69 year old is known for his dedication to the poor and marginalized while maintaining commitment to traditional church teaching. The American spent over 20 years as a missionary in South America as head of the Augustinians. Like Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a centrist in relation to the College of Cardinals. In his opening address to the world, Pope Leo XIV’s first words were “Peace be with you all,” a compassionate beginning to the 267th Roman Pontificate.

Sources:

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/cardinal-elected-pope-papal-name.html#:~:text=%22Peace%20be%20with%20all%20of,by%20Cardinal%20Protodeacon%20Dominique%20Mamberti.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/08/europe/new-pope-conclave-white-smoke-vatican-intl#:~:text=Cardinal%20Robert%20Francis%20Prevost%20of,known%20as%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05/08/world/pope-conclave-news#pope-leo-xiv-robert-francis-prevost

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