VATICAN CITY - After two days of voting, the nearly 130 voting cardinals in Vatican City have elected a new pope. The new leader of the Catholic Church is Robert Prevost. According to the Associated Press, he is the first American pope in history.
He is an American missionary spent his career ministering in Peru and led the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops. Prevost, 69, took the name Leo XIV. AP says he was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.
The new pope's name was announced by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after the uttering of “Habemus papam!” Latin for “We have a pope!” Prevost becomes the 267th pope.
People wave flags in St. Peter’s square after the election of the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Just prior to the announcement, AP reports American Cardinals Sean O’Malley and Donald Wuerl in the crowd when white smoke appeared out of the chimney. Both of these cardinals are over 80 and didn’t vote.
The election of Leo XIV comes after Pope Francis passed away the day after Easter. He had been the pope for just over twelve years.