VATICAN CITY — White smoke has risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the 267th pope in history and will take the name Pope Leo XIV, succeeding the late Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
The historic announcement was made after the second day of voting by more than 130 cardinals gathered in the solemn conclave. Prevost appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the thousands of faithful assembled in St. Peter’s Square, delivering his first apostolic blessing as pope.
Pope Leo XIV is the first new pontiff since 2013, when Pope Francis was elected following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Like the 2013 conclave, this one also reached a decision in just two days—a reflection, Vatican watchers say, of consensus among the cardinals during this critical moment for the Church.
The 2025 conclave began on May 7, with an initial vote that evening. Following the rules of the Church, each subsequent day consisted of four rounds of voting and two smoke signals—black for no decision, white for a successful election. The dramatic rise of white smoke today confirmed the selection of the new pope to millions watching around the world.
Pope Leo XIV now steps into a role of immense spiritual and moral responsibility, leading over 1.3 billion Catholics globally through a time of both challenge and opportunity.
