The Roman Catholic Church has named US Cardinal Robert Prevost as its 267th Pope, succeeding the late Francis as Leo XIV.
This comes after white smoke on Thursday, May 8, rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signaling to the faithful and the world that a new Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter, has been elected.
Until his election, Pope Leo XIV was the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop from Chicago, the largest Archdiocese in North America.
The 69-year-old cardinal, who holds both American and Peruvian citizenship, also serves as the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, where nearly 40 per cent of the world’s Catholics reside.
Born in Chicago in 1955, he had a long career in missionary work in South America, working for nearly 15 years in Peru until 1998.
In 2015, the American was appointed the bishop of Chiclayo in northwest Peru.
Vatican News explains that there is a rite of acceptance followed before the name of Pope Leo XIV was proclaimed from the Loggia of Blessings by the French Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti.
Conclusion of the Conclave which elected Cardinal Prevost as Pope Leo XIV
According to the rules laid out in the Ordo Rituum Conclavis and the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis, one of the Cardinals present in the Sistine Chapel received the required majority, signaling the election has taken place canonically.
After receiving the required majority, the senior Cardinal by order and age (or, if he is the one elected, the next in line) asks, in Latin and on behalf of the entire College of Electors, for the elected Cardinal’s consent with the words: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?” Upon receiving the consent, he then asks: “By what name do you wish to be called?”
The Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, acting as notary and with two ceremonial officers as witnesses, then draws up a document confirming the elected Pope’s acceptance and the name he has chosen.
The Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis states that the conclave ends once the new Pope accepts his election, “unless he decides otherwise.”
Also Read: New Pope Election: What a Conclave Means and How it Works
At that point, the Substitute for the Secretariat of State, the Secretary for Relations with States, and others who need to discuss immediate matters with the new Pope may enter the Sistine Chapel.
After the rite of acceptance is completed, all the ballots and other election-related documents are burned, and the resulting white smoke signals to the world that a new Pope has been chosen.
While the faithful in St. Peter’s Square applaud and the world awaits the name of the new Pope, the newly elected Pontiff exits the Sistine Chapel and enters the “Room of Tears.”
There, with the help of the Master of Liturgical Celebrations, he removes the cardinal’s vestment, puts on one of the three prepared papal garments, and spends a few minutes in prayer.”
The first ceremony: Greeting and “Te Deum”
Upon returning to the Sistine Chapel, the newly elected Pope takes his seat on the chair, and a brief ceremony begins, introduced with a greeting from the senior Cardinal of the Order of Bishops.
Also Read: White Smoke as New Pope is Elected
The senior Cardinal priest then reads a passage from the Gospel, either “You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church” or “Feed my sheep.” The Protodeacon then offers a prayer for the newly elected Successor of Peter.
Afterwards, all the Cardinal electors, in order of precedence, come forward to greet the new Pope and pledge their obedience to him.
The ceremony concludes with the singing of the Te Deum, led by the newly elected Pope.
Cardinal Protodeacon Mamberti then proceeds to the Loggia of Blessings to announce the election and name of the new Pope with the traditional formula: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!” (“I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!”).
The new Pope, before proceeding to the Loggia, stops in the Pauline Chapel to pray silently before the Blessed Sacrament.
After this moment of prayer, he steps out onto the Loggia, where he delivers his greeting and imparts his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi—to the city and to the world.
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