Meet Newly Elected Pope, As Vatican Chose Pope Francis’ Successor

The voting process for Pope Francis’ successor has concluded, culminating in the selection of a new Pope.

The announcement was made on Thursday evening, as white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling to the gathered crowds that a decision had been reached.

The atmosphere in Vatican City was electric, with cheers and celebrations breaking out among the assembled crowds.

Flags waved, and people embraced one another, eagerly awaiting the revelation of the new Pope’s identity.

Meanwhile, CNN reports that the new pope has been revealed as Robert Prevost of the US, the first American pontiff in history.

He’ll be known as Pope Leo XIV.

According to report, 133 voting cardinals had all been sequestered inside the Vatican during the conclave.

Any one of them needed two-thirds of the vote to become the next pope.

Below is the profile of Prevost from before the conclave:

Despite the Vatican’s longstanding opposition to the idea of a pope from the US because of the country’s superpower status and secular global influence, the moderate, Chicago-born Prevost is still one to watch.

Created a cardinal by Francis in 2023, the former leader of the Augustinian order was also appointed by the late pope to the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from around the world.

Those senior roles, combined with the fact that he has significant missionary experience in Peru, having served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo, may go some way to redeeming him in the eyes of those who would not usually countenance the idea of an American pope.