VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was elected the 267th supreme pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday by the College of Cardinals during a two-day conclave in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
He will go by Pope Leo XIV.
The choice is widely considered surprising by experts and close observers. Prevost becomes the first American elected pope.
Prevost graduated from Villanova University in 1977, earning a degree in mathematics. A year later, he earned a degree in Mater of Divinity at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Newly elevated cardinal, US prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops Robert Francis Prevost attends a courtesy visit of relatives following a consistory for the creation of 21 new cardinals in The Vatican on September 30, 2023. Pope Francis elevates 21 clergymen from all corners of the world to the rank of cardinal — most of whom may one day cast ballots to elect his successor. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost swings a censer in front of an icon of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe during a mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St Peter’s basilica on December 12, 2023 in The Vatican. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
The sight of white smoke billowing out from arguably the world’s most famous chimney delighted the crowd of over 45,000 observers keeping vigil in Saint Peter’s Square, which immediately expanded to a global audience of billions as the news broke.
![Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope. [The Daily Caller]](https://i0.wp.com/cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0188-620x413.jpg?resize=620%2C413&ssl=1)
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope. (The Daily Caller)
![Robert Francis Prevost, the new pope. [The Daily Caller]](https://i0.wp.com/cdn01.dailycaller.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0226-620x413.jpg?resize=620%2C413&ssl=1)
(The Daily Caller)
The bells of Saint Peter’s Basilica, which joyously rang to commemorate the Easter Sunday resurrection of Jesus Christ before solemnly announcing the death of Pope Francis, 88, a day later, rang once again to celebrate the newest successor to Saint Peter.
As the senior cardinal deacon participating in the papal conclave, French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, announced the ancient “Habemus papam” proclamation from the central loggia (balcony) of the basilica:
Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; | I announce to you a great joy:
habemus Papam: | we have a pope:
Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, | The most eminent and most reverend lord,
Dominum [first name] | Lord [first name]
Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem [surname] | Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname]
qui sibi nomen imposuit [papal name]. | who has taken the name [papal name].
Moments after the acceptance of the grave responsibility entrusted to him by his colleagues, the new pope announced a Petrine name and moved to an antechamber of the Sistine Chapel, the historic “Room of Tears,” to gather his thoughts and vest for his new ministry. The new Vicar of Christ is then introduced to the cheering crowd of onlookers and the world before offering the tradition Urbi et Orbi (“for the city and for the world”) blessing.
The term “conclave” is derived from the Latin cum (“with”) and clavis (“key”).
After the 1268 papal vacancy continued for a year before the waiting citizens of Viterbo, Italy took matters into their own hands. They locked the then-19 cardinal electors in the Palace of the Popes with only bread and water to pressure them to fill the vacancy; Gregory X was finally elected in 1271. He would later issue Ubi periculum, an Apostolic Constitution to formalize the rules for selecting a pope, which formed the basis for the modern-day, secretive process.
The conclave, which formally began Wednesday, made history as the largest in Church history. Out of the 235 members of the uppermost echelon of Catholic clergy, 133 participated as eligible cardinal electors — under 80 years of age at the time of the death of the reigning pope —which exceeds the previously defined limit of 120. The late Pope Francis created 108, or 80%, of them. To elect his successor required a two-thirds majority, at least 89 votes.
In addition, the cardinal electors represented 71 countries across six continents, making the conclave among the most geographically diverse to convene, another legacy of Pope Francis, who desired a Church which welcomes “everyone, everyone, everyone.” The largest national voting blocs represented Italy (17), the United States (10, which is one fewer than its showing in the 2013 and 2005 conclaves) and Brazil (seven). Europe’s share of the vote, 52, was less than half of the electorate; the representation of Asia (20) and Africa (18) increased from the 2013 conclave by 10 and seven, respectively. Canada sent four cardinals; Mexico sent two. The Catholic Church, however, is not a representative democracy — the papacy is Europe’s last absolute monarchy — with each cardinal considering their own ecclesiastical priorities when voting in the conclave.
Pope Francis elevates to cardinal US prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops Robert Francis Prevost during a consistory to create 21 new cardinals at St. Peter’s square in The Vatican on September 30, 2023. Pope Francis elevates 21 clergymen from all corners of the world to the rank of cardinal — most of whom may one day cast ballots to elect his successor. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)
US prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops Robert Francis Prevost walks after being elevated cardinal during a consistory to create 21 new cardinals at St. Peter’s square in The Vatican on September 30, 2023. Pope Francis elevates 21 clergymen from all corners of the world to the rank of cardinal — most of whom may one day cast ballots to elect his successor. (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Countries enjoying a first-time delegation to the conclave include Bangladesh, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, East Timor, El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Serbia, Singapore, South Sudan, Sweden and Tonga, according to Catholic News Agency.
Many of the cardinals had never met, but were able to be introduced to each other — and draw support and influence — over the course of twelve general congregation meetings ahead of the conclave to discuss matters affecting the Church.
The new pope inherits a spiritual flock of 1.39 billion Catholics and will likely need to address an increasingly secularized world, clerical sex abuses of minors and the fallout, as well as global conflicts, both armed and rhetorical.
