American Robert Francis Prevost Elected as Pope
White smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney this afternoon, signaling that the conclave has concluded and the 133 cardinals have elected a new pope.
Pope Leo XIV, 69-year-old Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, was chosen as the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics around the world. He is the first American pope.
His election took multiple rounds of voting, with the conclave lasting just over 24 hours. Since 1900, Leo XIV is the fifth pope to have been elected in under two days.
After 7 p.m. local time in Vatican City, Leo XIV, the 267th pope of the Catholic church, was introduced on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, with Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the senior cardinal deacon of the conclave, declaring: 'Nuntio vobis gaudium magnum: habemus papam!' ('I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!') Wearing the white papal vestments for the first time, Leo XIV greeted the gathered crowds.
Pope Leo XIV's inauguration will likely take place within the week. After Pope Francis was elected, he was inaugurated six days later; Pope Benedict XVI's inauguration took place five days after his election.
Upon his election as pontiff, he is given a special ring, the Fisherman's Ring, 'which signifies that he is the direct successor of St Peter who was both fisherman and disciple,' Professor Rebecca Rist, papal expert at the University of Reading, explains. Previous popes were crowned with a papal tiara, but the last pope to do so was Pope Paul VI, who was also the last pope to have a coronation.
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