By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

Breaking news from the Vatican indicates that the College of Cardinals has elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost  as the new Pope. He has chosen the papal name Leo XIV to succeed Pope Francis. White smoke, the traditional signal of a successful papal election, billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at approximately Sistine Chapel at 5:54 PM WAT, signaling the successful election on Thursday, May 8, 2025.  

The conclave, which began yesterday, saw 133 cardinal electors participate in a series of secret ballots. The appearance of white smoke after just two days suggests a relatively swift consensus among the cardinals.  

A senior Cardinal Deacon appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce the name of the new pontiff with the words “Habemus Papam” (We have a Pope). Following this announcement, the new Pope made his first public appearance and imparted his blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and to the world).  

Pope Leo XIV, aged 69, is the first Pope to hail from the United States. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cardinal Prevost has a distinguished background, having served as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops prior to his election. He is also the second Pope from the Americas, following the late Pope Francis, but unlike his predecessor, Pope Leo XIV is from North America.

A member of the Augustinian order, Pope Leo XIV spent many years as a missionary in Peru and later served two consecutive terms as the head of the Augustinians. His experience in diverse pastoral settings is expected to bring a unique perspective to his pontificate.

Though Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, setting in motion the intricate process of papal succession, the election of a new Pope marks a significant moment for the Catholic Church and its 1.3 billion followers worldwide.