Seventeen days after the death of Pope Francis, 133 cardinals elected a new pope, Leo XIV, who is the first ever from the United States.
Cardinal Robert Provost 69 was born in Chicago and graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics in 1977. He earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 1982 and was ordained a priest the same year. After being elected, he took the name of Leo XIV. Aside from being the first ever from the United States, he also is the first Augustinian friar to be elected pontiff, said Villanova officials in a press release. He also speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese, said the Catholic News Agency.
The former pope, Francis, brought Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. As a result, Prevost has a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had, according to AP News.
The first words of Pope Leo XIV’s speech as he greeted Rome and the world after being elected on Thursday was “Peace be with all of you!,” according to the Vatican. On Friday he called his election both a cross and a blessing in his celebratory first Mass. He strikes continuity with both Francis and Catholic tradition, reported by AP News Live Updates.
The Conclave started on Wednesday May 7th 2025 and the first day ended in no decision made. Black smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney to declare the decision as Catholics around the world waited for the announcement of their new pope. To be elected, a candidate must receive a two-thirds majority. After 2 days, on Thursday May 8th, the Conclave elected Cardinal Prevost as the pope. according to news from the Vatican.
The word “conclave” derives from the Latin words cum clavis, meaning “with key.” A papal conclave is the election process by which a new pope is selected. It is rare for a pope to resign. Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope in almost six hundred years to resign his office in February 2013. When a pope dies, there are nine days of mourning.
When a pope dies or resigns, the Church follows a process established over centuries to elect his successor. The period between two popes is called an interregnum, Latin for “between reigns” of two popes. Despite the absence of a pope for a period of time, the faithful take comfort in knowing that the Church continues, reminded that the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings (Rev. 17:14), never relinquishes his divine reign over his Catholic Church, said Catholic news officials.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, was surprised but happy with the outcome of the election. “I certainly offer a prayer for Pope Leo,” he said, “and pray for the beginning of his mission and for its success.”
Pope Leo XIV’s brother, John Prevost, said he felt ‘disbelief’ when his brother, Robert Prevost, was named pope on Thursday. He said the new Pope Leo XIV is very concerned for the poor and those who don’t have a voice. He said he expects his younger brother to be a “second Pope Francis,” said in an interview on AP Video by Obed Lamy.
Recent Comments