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After two days of voting, 133 Catholic cardinals have now selected the next pope to lead the Roman Catholic church, which has an estimated 1.4 billion members worldwide.
According to tradition, the news that a new pope had been chosen was made known by white smoke released from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday.
Thousands of people were gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, to be present when the announcement was made. After the white smoke was released, the crowd erupted in cheers, while they waited for the new pope to be identified.
The Pontifical Swiss Guard, accompanied by the Vatican’s marching band, paraded out in front of the crowd in a formal ceremony.
The newly-chosen pope has been identified as Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, from Chicago, Illinois. He is the first American pope.
According to Catholic custom, popes never go by their given name, but choose a new name upon becoming pope. Prevost has chosen his new name to be: Pope Leo XIV.
He is reportedly considered to be aligned with the former Pope Frances, who died on Apri 21, the day after Easter Sunday.
🚨BREAKING🚨 The new pope is Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, his papal name is Pope Leo XIV
He is the first American pope. pic.twitter.com/i6l3Cb71h0
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 8, 2025
Watch live-streaming coverage in the video below:
🚨 #BREAKING: AMERICAN Cardinal chosen as Pope, Robert Francis Prevost. First American Pope.
Papal name Leo XIV. pic.twitter.com/eDWj7Sqnn0
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 8, 2025
The new pope is announced: Cardinal Robert F. Prevost takes the name Leo XIV. pic.twitter.com/Q0cFXZKeqq
— Catholic News Service Rome (@CatholicNewsSvc) May 8, 2025
Habemus Papam! We have a Pope!
The Cardinals gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th Pope, who took the name Pope Leo XIV. pic.twitter.com/7COawsKvWu
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 8, 2025
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