Pope Francis’s death has resulted in the official election of a new pope. The public was informed that the conclave had made a decision Thursday afternoon as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney.
The new Pope is who?
The well-known American Catholic leader Robert Francis Prevost, who will soon be known as Pope Leon XIV, was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois.
With a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Villanova University, a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Prevost, a member of the Order of Saint Augustine, has a broad academic and theological background.
Prevost, who was ordained as a priest in 1982, spent a large portion of his early ministry in Peru, where he led seminaries, conducted missionary work, and eventually became the bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo.
He was named President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis in 2023, two of the Vatican’s most important positions. He was appointed a Cardinal that same year. His Prefect term ended on April 21, 2025, when Pope Francis passed away.
As the present provincial of the Viatorians in the United States, Father Mark R. Francis, CSV, studied under Prevost and knows him well. The two later worked in Rome in the early 2000s after attending Catholic Theological Union in Chicago as seminary students from 1978 to 1982.According to CBS News, Fr. Francis characterizes his old classmate as a steadfast and profoundly reflective figure in the Church.
“I had the impression that Cardinal Prevost isn’t a showboat,” Fr. Francis stated. “He’s very calm, but extremely intelligent, and extremely compassionate.”He is well-liked by both progressives and centrists in the Catholic community because of his unique combination of academic rigor and emotional intelligence.
“He’s a person who’s very sensitive, and is concerned to allow everyone to have a voice,” said Fr. Francis.Cardinal Prevost is well-known for standing up for the underprivileged, notably the impoverished, which is reminiscent of Pope Francis’ focus on inclusivity and compassion. Would a papacy headed by the Prevost seem familiar?
Francis clarified, “I think it would be similar in terms of basic goals.” “The kind of style he would bring to the papacy would be calm, steady, very direct kind of guidance.”
Although many people consider Cardinal Prevost to be a centrist at heart—someone who may heal the divisions within the Church—he is also considered as progressive on a number of social issues.
133 cardinals convened in secret to cast their votes on the second day of deliberations inside Vatican City, marking a momentous occasion. The new Pontiff had to be elected with a two-thirds majority, which meant 89 votes were needed.
The cardinals reacted swiftly this time.
As the renowned plume of white smoke poured from the chimney, the crowds waiting outside St. Peter’s Basilica yelled in excitement, indicating that the centuries-old rite had once again produced a new spiritual leader to head the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 AM on April 21, 2025, at his home at Casa Santa Marta, which set off the conclave. He had been struggling with double pneumonia and related illnesses.
Five days later, on April 26, his funeral was held within St. Peter’s Basilica. Religious leaders, dignitaries from around the world, and hundreds of thousands of mourners attended the event, which attracted an incredible turnout.
US President Donald Trump, former President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Prince William of Britain, who represented King Charles, were among the prominent individuals in attendance.
There was more for the royal delegation to do. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, and King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan were also in attendance to pay their respects.
In Rome, Pope Francis was buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. He wanted his funeral to be as modest as possible. His casket contained important papal documents, a bag of coined coins, and a handwritten “Rogito.” His parting message was as follows:
“The tomb should be in the ground; it should be plain, unadorned, and simply engraved with Franciscus.”
Additionally, he wrote: “I would always pause to pray at the start and finish of every Apostolic Journey, and I wish my last earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary.”
Following his passing, the Church observed the Novendiale, a nine-day period of grief. The College of Cardinals could only start the process of selecting his successor after this time.
Strict, confidential procedures are followed in the choosing of a new Pope. The Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta is home to the cardinals, who convene in the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes. No external communication is allowed during the entire process, which is shrouded in secrecy.
Only 138 of the College of Cardinals’ 252 members—those under 80—were able to vote.
The position is nearly always held by a cardinal, but theoretically any unmarried Catholic man who is at least 35 years old and has been baptized could become pope. Additionally, a candidate needs to have studied canon law, theology, or the Bible.
However, women cannot hold the position of pope. Women are not allowed to become bishops or cardinals, the two clerical ranks from which popes are typically chosen, due to the Catholic Church’s position on male-only priesthood.
According to ABC, Catholic historian and pundit Paul Collins stated, “The truth is that the patriarchy is still in place and women need not apply.”
The Vatican argues this prohibition is established in historical precedent, claiming that Jesus picked twelve male apostles, who in turn ordained additional males into the ministry.
As the world now waits to learn the identity of the new Pontiff, one thing is certain—this is a watershed moment for the Church.
As additional information becomes available, this breaking news story will be updated.
