In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States has been elected Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. The announcement was made on Thursday from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where a senior cardinal declared the traditional “Habemus Papam!” to a jubilant crowd in St Peter’s Square.
At 69, Pope Leo XIV becomes the first American to hold the papacy and the first to choose the name “Leo” since Pope Leo XIII, who served until 1903. His election follows the death of Pope Francis in April and came after two days of deliberations by 133 cardinal electors in the Sistine Chapel.
The election was signalled by the white smoke from the chapel’s chimney and the ringing of bells. Shortly after, the new Pope appeared at the central window of St Peter’s Basilica to deliver his first apostolic blessing, offering prayers for unity and peace.
Widely respected for his pastoral humility and missionary work in Latin America, Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue Pope Francis’s focus on social justice, dialogue, and care for the marginalised. His election marks a significant shift in the Church’s global leadership and highlights its growing diversity in the modern era.
