White smoke rose over Vatican City this evening, marking the election of a new Pope. At 6:07 p.m. local time, the bells of St Peter’s Basilica rang out as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States was announced as the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He will take the name Pope Leo XIV.
Prevost, 69, becomes the first American-born Pope in the Church’s history. Born in Chicago, he has served as the Prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops since 2023 and is widely respected for his work in Latin America, especially in Peru, where he spent years as a missionary and bishop.
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The announcement was met with thunderous applause in St Peter’s Square, where tens of thousands had gathered in anticipation. As tradition dictates, the new Pope appeared on the central balcony of the basilica to deliver his first blessing, the “Urbi et Orbi,” to the city and the world.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue the pastoral tone set by his predecessor, Pope Francis, but insiders suggest he may push further on reforms concerning episcopal accountability, financial transparency, and decentralisation of Vatican governance. His strong ties to both North and South America are seen as a sign that the global South will play a larger role in the Church’s future.
Observers believe his election represents a balance between continuity and fresh leadership, particularly at a time when the Church faces challenges ranging from declining participation in the West to growing demands for inclusion and modernisation across the globe.
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