Conclave live: Identity of new pope and papal name revealed to the world

Sky News

08-05-2025

Identity of new pope revealed
The identity of the new pope has been revealed as US-born Robert Francis Prevost.
His papal name will be Leo XIV.
The election of the new pontiff came on the first full day of voting by the 133 cardinal electors.
He will now deliver his first public address and blessing to the gathered crowds in St Peter's Square.
Cardinal coming out on to St Peter's balcony to reveal new pope
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, head of the Catholic Church's top court, is coming out on the famous St Peter's balcony.
He says "annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam" - which translates as: "I announce to you great joy: We have a pope."
The cardinal will now announce the new pope by his given name in Latin and his chosen papal name in Latin.
Shortly, we will see the new pope dressed in white emerge on the balcony and address the crowd.
'Enormous responsibility' for the world's pastor
Father Robert Sirico, an American priest and head of the religions Acton Institute, spoke to Sky News about the huge role that the chosen cardinal will be taking on - for life.
"The weight of responsibility. It's astounding to think that he is responsible for not just almost one-and-a-half billion souls within the Catholic Church, but the human responsibility to speak about justice, about poverty, about the people who are in need and in war-torn zones.
"It's an enormous responsibility to see yourself as a pastor, because that's essentially what he is. "
New pope has accepted his role
The new pope has accepted his role and will appear on St Peter's balcony shortly.
As we wait for his identity to be revealed, here is what will happen shortly: Cardinal Dominique Mamberti will appear on St Peter's balcony and reads the new pope's birth name in Latin. He will then reveal the name the new pope has chosen;
The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing.
'New pope picked even faster than predecessor'
The fact that it took cardinals only four votes to pick a new pope is a "clear sign of the unity of the Church", Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi has told our Europe producer Simone Baglivo, who is in Vatican City.
The 81-year-old added: "The new pope was picked even faster than his predecessor!"
To note here, Pope Francis was elected within two days in 2013 and the cardinals needed five rounds of voting to elect him.
Watch live view of St Peter's balcony where pope will be announced shortly
From a chimney, to a balcony - all eyes are now turning to the famous windows in St Peter's, where we'll see cardinals gather soon.
One senior cardinal will emerge on the balcony and announce the new pope in Latin.
You can keep an eye on it all with our live stream.
Watch live via the stream below...
How long did it take in previous years?
We've had white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel -and we're waiting for the new pontiff to be announced.
While we do, here's a look at the last few conclaves and how long they took... In 2013, Pope Francis was elected within two days - the cardinals needed five rounds of voting to elect him;
In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was elected in two days after four votes;
In October 1978, Pope John Paul II was chosen after eight rounds of voting across three days;
Just months before, in August 1978, John Paul I was elected in two days. He died of a heart attack just 33 days after the beginning of his term as pope.
When was the longest conclave?
It took place between 1268 and 1271, stretching nearly three years, following the death of Pope Clement IV.
Cardinals eventually elected Teobaldo Visconti, who became Gregory X.
Watch: Crowds rush to Vatican
As we wait for the new pope to be revealed, crowds have been rushing to the Vatican to catch a glimpse of the new leader of the Catholic Church.
The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words "Habemus Papam!" - Latin for "We have a pope!"
What's happening now inside Sistine Chapel - where one cardinal has a new life
As jubilant chants of "habemus papam!" ring out in St Peter's Square, Sky News commentator Alastair Bruce talks about what comes next.
"Inside the Sistine Chapel, the individual who has been chosen by his fellow cardinals to be pope and has accepted and has now given the name by which he will be pope, has been taken into the room of tears just behind the altar, and there he will be being dressed in the white cassock.
"He'll be dressed in the papal garments before he's brought out, and sat on a chair in front of the altar, and all the 132 cardinals will come up and pledge their allegiance to him as supreme pontiff, as the vicar of Christ, as the Bishop of Rome."
This will take a bit of time, Bruce says, adding that it took about an hour and five minutes between white smoke and the announcement of Pope Francis in 2013.
"But whoever it is they are all cheering, whose name they don't know - and yet who has a new life."