The new Pope has emerged after the 133 Cardinals voted for the third time on Thursday. The new Pope is Robert Prevost – the first American Pope.
The election took two days with three rounds of voting. .During the papal conclave, the cardinals were indoors without phones and no communications with the outside world .
A 73-year-old Frenchman born in Morocco, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti made the announcement of a new Pope.. Cardinal Mamberti was expected to announce this unless he himself was elected the new Pope.
Dominique said: “I announce to you a great joy, We have a Pope. The most eminent and the reverend Francis.”
Cardinal Robert Provost is the new pope as elected by the Conclave.The new Pope has taken the name “Pope Leo XIV”
He appeared on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square, as of 6.15pm Nigeria time when the announcement of his identity was made.
“Peace be with all of you!” – were the the first words of Pope Leo XIV.
Pix: The white smoke seen at the chimney
The new Pope took the title of Pope Leo XIV. Robert Francis Prevost, was born on September 14, 1955. He is a Peruvian-American Catholic prelate who has been head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 8 May 2025.
He served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023.
Pix’ The new Pope( Pope Leo XIV.)
He previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013.
In 2015 Cardinal Prevost became a naturalized citizen of Peru as confirmed by Peru’s National Civil Registry.
On May 8, 2025, he was elected Pope, choosing the papal name Leo XIV, becoming the first Pope born in the United States, and the first from North America as a whole.
Pix: New Pope elect
Recall that Thursday, the Cardinals at the Conclave continued their voting with the second round of voting , bringing out black smoke, which signified no new Pope was elected.
The Cardinals went into a third round of voting and the temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.
Bells at St. Peter’s Basilica rang and crowds cheered as the white smoke billowed from the chimney.
The crowd cheering the new Pope
The new leader of the Catholic Church was chosen amid the third round of conclave voting. The crowd gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica were filled with joy, welcoming the new Pope. With shouts of joy. Pope Leo XIV is the 267Th Pope. He replaced Pope Francis who passed on on Easter Monday .
Author: Maureen Ikpeama