Vatican City, May 8, 2025 / 12:11 pm
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:09 p.m. Rome time on Thursday, signaling that the College of Cardinals had chosen a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
Thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as the bells of the basilica began to toll, confirming the election of a new pontiff. The crowds gathered as word spread throughout Rome that a new pope had been chosen.
The new pontiff appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at approximately 7:25 p.m. local time, where Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the protodeacon of the College of Cardinals and Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, announced in Latin: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!”
(“I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope!”)
Before appearing on the balcony, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV spent time in the “Room of Tears,” a small chamber adjacent to the Sistine Chapel. This traditionally named room is where new pontiffs first don the papal vestments and have a moment of private prayer and reflection as they absorb the magnitude of their election to the Chair of St. Peter.
Following the announcement, Leo XIV addressed the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square and those watching around the world, offering his first blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) as the new Roman pontiff.
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According to Simeon, Christ is that ‘sign that is spoken against’
One who resists the world and not appeases it.
It is a challenge for all of us.
We must pray for this new shepherd
Habemus Papam! May God grant Pope Leo XIV many blessed years!
As our Bishop here in Switzerland rightly stated, having a Pope from both the Americas, North and South,is quite exciting!
Yes. Pope Leo has actually achieved shock value. What an unexpected blessing to hear a Pope speak USA English. I will have to find a way to forgive him for the Chicago accent! Seriously, what the hec! Hallelujah!
On a more serious note, the last time I heard a Pope homily that motivated me more to evangelize was in Denver in August 1993.
https://abcnews.go.com/International/video/pope-leo-xiv-sing-new-song-lord-homily-121629964
What a great new beginning…
Yes, and family history-wise from the Caribbean also. God bless Haiti!
His wording reminds me of the apocryphal Chinese curse of, “May you live in intersting times.”
These reflections from a back-bleachers layman,
First, expanding the key remark offered by Pope Leo XIV is the original he was actually quoting, from St. Augustine:
“Where I’m terrified by what I am for you, I am given comfort by what I am with you. [then the one-sentence quote] For you I am a bishop, with you, after all, I am a Christian. The first is the name of an office undertaken, the second a name of grace; that one means danger, this one salvation” (on the anniversary of his ordination, and published as Sermon 340).
Second, might we find that the better threads of a listening but very problematic “synodality” will be correctly reframed in 2028 as, yes and only, an “ecclesial assembly”?
A term also used by Benedict XVI already forty years ago—that is, as a less “clericalist” Communio between the ordained hierarchy and the baptized laity; and yet with the successors of the Apostles, the bishops/papacy or “hierarchical communion” of the Church “sent” by Christ (as explained by the Second Vatican Council in Lumen Gentium), clearly intact. A listening and charismatic “structure,” but not to be displaced by a procedural synodal “style.”
Third, the election of Leo XIV: a work of the Holy Spirit.
Such early white smoke for a pope who is refreshingly Augustinian, and who connects to both Leo I (who deflected Attila’s barbarians from sacking Rome), and the 19th-century Leo XIII who first articulated to the industrialized and now post-modern world the fully human Social Teaching of the perennial Catholic Church (Rerum Novarum in 1891, but also earlier encyclicals on Church and State relations and Christian citizenship).
And, a new pope who recalls the conversion (!) of St. Augustine as recounted in his always timely “Confessions.”
Beautiful. Thanks as always Peter.
Rejoicing with the whole Church at the election of Pope Leo XIV! May Our Lady, Mother of the Church, wrap him in her mantle and lead him as she once led the beloved disciple—closer to the Heart of Christ. “Where there is charity, there is peace; and where there is humility, there is charity” (St. Augustine). We entrust him to her Immaculate Heart.
I wish Pope Leo XIV good health and long life to promote the Catholic Faith with his humanity, integrity and humanity. May he bring peace and tranquility to the people of the earth !
I am surprised that the Conclave elected an American. He must be good.
Dear William,
Here is my suggestion for Leo XIV in order to continue the social doctrine of Leo XIII:
Catholic Education in Solidarity with the Poor
St. Ignatius of Loyola, when he established Jesuit schools and colleges in the sixteenth century, insisted that no tuition fees be charged to the students in order that the poor might participate with the rich. Today, student fees in some of our Catholic Colleges here in the USA are exceeding $60,000 a year. If we find that we cannot afford to keep our schools open to the poor, the Church should be ready to use its resources for something else which can be kept open to the poor. We cannot allow our Church to become a church primarily for the middle-class and rich while throwing a bone to the poor. The priority should be given to the poor even if we have to let the middle-class and rich fend for themselves.
Practically speaking, the Catholic Schools must give up general education in those countries where the State is providing it. The resources of the Church could then be focused on “Confraternity of Christian Doctrine” and other programs which can be kept open to the poor. These resources could then be used to help society become more human in solidarity with the poor. Remember, the Church managed without Catholic Schools for centuries. It can get along without them today. The essential factor from the Christian point of view is to cultivate enough Faith to act in the Gospel Tradition, namely, THE POOR GET PRIORITY. The rich and middle-class are welcome too. But the poor come first.
Are you talking about the ‘poor in spirit’ or the ‘poor in material goods’?
Why are you cutting and pasting this same post repeatedly on this site? You don’t even bother to change your wording. Your post is nothing more than a Marxist redistribution scheme. The poor are not the priority. They certainly do not come first.
The lay teachers today mostly don’t take a vow of poverty, like the sisters and other religious used to, so we have to pay them a living salary. In our area the farmers would bring the nuns in fresh eggs, milk etc.. as they only got $25 per month at one time, and many times their cupboards were sparse, but they did get to eat lunch at the school cafeteria. They were Dominicans and excellent teachers although quite the disciplinarians at times.
Did we hear yet how the Oklahoma supreme court case turned out or are they still deliberating it?; there’s no reason some of the public money cannot go to parochial or private schools, but they have to be subject to some accreditation in the basics at least.
I have high hopes for Leo XIV (Leo XIII was a great Pope!). May he soon clarify doctrinal matters where Bergoglo was ambiguous, beginning with answering the dubia submitted by Cardinal Burke and others.
God bless Leo XIV !!
Yes and may he trash the scandalous same sex “couple “ blessings asap!
Why are you cutting and pasting this same post repeatedly on this site? You don’t even bother to change your wording. Your post is nothing more than a Marxist redistribution scheme. The poor are not the priority. They certainly do not come first.
He did say the poor will always be with you but He would not be. He did also say we need to care for the least of our brothers, because when you do so you were caring for Him.
The world actually had a better society when most people were poor, not taking into consideration the suffering. Money is mucking up the US and the world in a big way.
He holds some of Francis’ ideas strongly, but already seems harder line on abortion and sexual morality.
No offense or detriment to their respective offices and ranks of the Cardinalate, but I’m grateful that they didn’t choose Cupich, Tagle, or Parolin.
Leo XIV was a great pick.
I am embarrassed, as with long standing (going back to 2000 in Chicago and later in his diocese in Peru where hush money was paid) allegations of mishandling abusers and children victims, his elevation to the Chair shows remarkably poor judgement, fuel for Church haters, militant atheists, right wing and left wing, and status quo/business as usual in the Vatican.
And yes, I’d be saying the same of Burke or Sarah had they the exact same allegations hanging over them.
Scripture is quite clear that bishops should be free of any taint of scandal, and surely THE bishop.
I hope and pray that Leo XIV will adopt the character of St. Pope Leo I the Great than that of Pope Leo XIII. The Great Leo was a giant of a pope, only one of three popes having appended to his name “the Great” appellation. Leo I is also a Doctor of our church. Leo I helped heal disunities and downright schisms rendered by a number of Christological heresies.
May the new pope be bold in love, a man of God, a son of Mary, and a pillar of truth. May he always remember that Jesus prayed for Peter and for him.
He needs to bergoglio Rupnik immediately.
McElroy and Tucho and Cupich too.
It looks like Trump’s tariffs are working to reset global trade. Even the Pope was made in America.