For cardinals in the conclave pondering who the next leader of the Catholic church should be, they will have considered leadership skills, pastoral experience, knowledge of the Vatican and toughness. Robert Prevost has all this in spades. He led his religious order as prior general, he has worked in a diocese, and since 2023 has been in charge of the Vatican department that chooses bishops. The view is that he has made having a compassionate or pastoral approach a priority for choosing who joins the episcopacy. There will be some who will worry that Prevost blotted his copybook when it came to dealing with abuse crises in Peru. The sexual abuse of children and vulnerable people remains a stain on the Catholic church, and how he handles it will be one of his great tests. While some LGBTQ+ organisations noted that, before Pope Francis was elected, Prevost expressed concerns about what he called “the homosexual lifestyle”, it is noticeable that one of the Catholic church’s leading advocates for gay people, the American Jesuit priest, James Martin, has described Prevost’s election as “a brilliant choice”, and said that Prevost is “kind, open and honest”. What’s in a name? When it comes to a pope – everything. The white smoke from the Sistine Chapel earlier this evening told the world that a new pope to succeed Francis had been elected – and for the first time the pontiff is from the US. But if Donald Trump and his Catholic convert Veep, JD Vance, are ready to cheer, then they should think again. Cardinal Robert Prevost has chosen the name Leo XIV – and if you’re a papal Leo, you tend to be a reformer at the progressive end of Catholicism. That Prevost has decided to become Leo XIV will make Catholics think immediately of the last Leo – Leo XIII – and his 1891 encyclical or teaching document, Rerum Novarum, which outlined workers’ rights to a fair wage, safe working conditions and the rights of workers to belong to trade unions. If Pope Francis was the People’s Pope, then Leo XIV is all set to be the Workers’ Pope. Peru’s president, Dina Boluarte, hailed the “historic” election of Leo XIV, whom she described as a Peruvian “by choice and conviction” who had devoted more than 20 years of service to the country. She added that Prevost, 69, “chose to be one of us, to live among us and to carry in his heart the faith, culture and dreams of this country”. She added: “The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru.” Even so, Prevost has spoken out against Boluarte’s government in the past. In early 2023, he described his “sadness and pain” over the deaths of 49 protesters in anti-government demonstrations that erupted when President Boluarte took office in December 2022, replacing Pedro Castillo who was forced out for attempting to suspend congress. At the time Prevost said the unrest reflected the historic neglect of Peru’s poor, saying: “This conflict does not represent the best of the country.” Pope Leo also called on late former president Alberto Fujimori, who was jailed in 2009 for human rights abuses and corruption to ask for forgiveness from each of his government’s victims in order to begin a process of reconciliation. His suggestion came just two days after Fujimori was given a presidential pardon as part of a political deal and released a video with a half-hearted apology. Prevost pointedly suggested “it would be more effective to ask for forgiveness, personally, for some of the great injustices that were committed and for which he was tried and sentenced”. The controversial ex-leader was sent back to jail in 2018, only to be pardoned again in 2023 amid street protests. He died in 2024 and was given a state funeral. As news of Leo’s election began to sink in, social media in Peru was flooded with memes of the pope eating ceviche, Peru’s flagship dish, and drinking Inca Kola, its bubblegum-flavoured soft drink. Others showed him in Peru’s red-and-white football shirt and another humorous image showed the popemobile refashioned as a three-wheeled motorcycle rickshaw, the principal mode of transport in much of the country. Some posts on social media jokingly claimed that the new pope was “more Latino than the entire cast of Emilia Pérez”, referencing the French film that sparked controversy over its portrayal of Mexico. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has called on the new Pope Leo XIV to pursue the “peace efforts” of his predecessor Francis, in an official statement. Abbas sent “best wishes for the success of Pope Leo XIV in the pursuit of his noble task and maintaining the legacy of the late Pope Francis,” said the statement. Abbas highlighted the “importance of the moral, religious and political role of the Vatican in the defence of just causes”, adding that “the Palestinian people and their right to liberty and independence” should be at the top. Pope Francis had been a critic of Israel’s war on Gaza and had called the Holy Family Church in Gaza City every day after the war began until his death. Shortly after his death it was revealed that Francis had approved the conversion of his popemobile into a mobile health clinic to treat children in Gaza. Pope Leo XIV fell in love with Peru and its signature dish of raw seafood, ceviche, over his nearly two decades in the country, his successor as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo has said said. AFP reports: “He loved goat, duck with rice and ceviche, those were his favourite dishes,” Chiclayo’s current bishop Edison Farfan told a press conference. He added that there were photographs in Chiclayo of him riding a horse. Farfan recalled Prevost’s beginnings in Peru as a missionary in the northern town of Chulucanas, fresh out of university in the United States. From there he moved to the coastal city of Trujillo, where he helped set up an Augustinian seminary, before finally winding up in the far northern city of Chiclayo, where he was ordained a bishop in 2015, Farfan said. Leo gave “his whole life to the mission in Peru,” Farfan said, adding that the new pontiff, like his Argentine predecessor Francis, was particularly driven by poverty and by people living on the “periphery” of society. The internet exploded with humor and Chicago pride on Thursday following the historic announcement that Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old American clergyman from Chicago, has been named the new pope. The Chicago mayor, Brandon Johnson, celebrated the moment on social media, posting: Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon. Other users asked for “photos of the new pope at the Bean” Chicago’s famous sculpture, while MSNBC’s Chris Hayes wondered whether the pope was a Chicago Cubs fan, as others asked if he was a White Sox fan. One X user joked: “In honor of Chicago’s own Pope Leo XIV, the White Sox announce the new ‘White Smoke Shake’ that will be served in a commemorative pope hat.” Another poked fun at the Chicago Bears American Football team, writing: “Chicago produced a pope before a QB who throws for 4,000 yards.” Others referenced Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza, joking about the pope serving deep dish pizza and to ask whether the new pope thinks that Chicago or Rome have better pizza. The UN’s secretary general, António Guterres, has offered his “heartfelt” congratulations to Pope Leo XIV and Catholics around the world. “Our world is in need of the strongest voices for peace, social justice, human dignity [and] compassion,” the UN chief posted to X. I look forward to building on the long legacy of cooperation between the UN and the Holy See to advance solidarity, foster reconciliation & build a just and sustainable world for all. Robert Francis Prevost – who has chosen the papal name Leo XIV – may not be the Latin American Jesuit wildcard that his predecessor, Pope Francis, was, but his election is similarly historic. In the figure of the 69-year-old former head of the Augustinian order, the Roman Catholic church has its very first US leader. Until Thursday evening, the idea of the fisherman’s ring being slipped on to a North American hand was seen as a fairly distant possibility. The Vatican’s longstanding opposition to a US pope stemmed largely from the optics of having a pontiff from a political superpower and a country with such a hegemonic cultural and secular global influence. But all that changed after a short conclave that chose a man who had been a cardinal for only a little more than two years. While his appointment is likely to be welcomed by progressive factions within the church, it was probably not the news that some of his more conservative, Trump-aligned US brother cardinals had been hoping for. Read the full profile: Robert Francis Prevost: the moderate, good humoured first American pope Canada’s newly elected prime minister, Mark Carney, has called the pope’s election a “historic day for Catholics and all who look to the Vatican for guidance”. A practicing Catholic, Carney said he offered his “prayers and best wishes” to Pope Leo XIV, adding: At a time of global challenges, may his pontificate carry forward a mission of solidarity, compassion, and dignity for all. A London LGBT+ faith group has welcomed the election of Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV and said it hopes he has “moved on” from previous remarks where he criticised the “homosexual lifestyle”. As we reported earlier, Prevost said in a 2012 address to the world Synod of Bishops that “Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel — for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia”. “We trust he will be open to listen to the lived experience of LGBT+ Catholics, their parents and families,” the statement by the LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council reads. Opinions and ideas can change, and he supported Pope Francis’ change in pastoral practice to allow divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion, and he showed support for Fiducia Supplicans, allowing blessings for same-sex couples. He has expressed openness to marginalized groups, though his stance on specific issues remains ambiguous, including the concerns of LGBT+ Catholics. In the early hours of 20 February 1878, following a third ballot, the door of the ground gallery of the Vatican Basilica was thrown open and Italian-born Cardinal Pecci was announced as the successor to Pope Pius IX. According to our Special Correspondent, the new Pope’s first appearance gave the signal for the ‘most vociferous cheering’, the Rome crowd taking up the shout and crying “long live the Pope”. Readers were also told that the new Pope, who had chosen Leo out of admiration for Pope Leo XII, was a “man of moderate views in religious matters, though of distinguished piety, combined with great energy and character...” Leo XIII’s papacy lasted until his death in 1903, making him one of the longest-serving Popes. Biographers later noted that he “brought a new spirit to the papacy, expressed in more conciliatory positions toward civil governments, by less opposition to scientific progress, and by an awareness of the pastoral and social needs of the times.” Here are some images from the newswires showing how people from around the world cheered the election of Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV. A new pope is elected. US cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be known as Pope Leo XIV. It’s been a long while since we had a pope with this name: last Leo, Leo XIII, was elected in 1878 and served until his death in 1903. In his first comments after his election, Pope Leo XIV preached a message of “unity” and of “moving forward”. He said he wants this message of peace to “enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.” Many shared their excitement at having an American pope, and specifically a pope born in Chicago. City mayor Brandon Johnson tweeted “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago” and former US president Barack Obama congratulated the “fellow Chicagoan” on social media. US president Donald Trump said he was “surprised” but that it is a “great honor” to have an American pope. World leaders from several countries including Italy, Spain, Greece, Ukraine, Peru and the United Kingdom have offered their congratulations. An account on X widely believed to belong to the new pope shows him to be somewhat critical of the Trump administration. The account posted two articles that took issue with the stance by JD Vance, also a Catholic, on immigration. One article was headlined “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” In a 2012 address to the world Synod of Bishops, Father Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV appeared to criticize homosexuality, saying “Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel — for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia”. The election of Pope Leo XIV is being celebrated across Latin America – particularly in Peru, where he lived and worked for more than 20 years and was granted citizenship in 2015 – as a kind of “second Latin American pope”, following his Argentine predecessor, Francis. The president of Peru, Dina Boluarte, said that Leo’s election was “not only the first time that an American has ascended to the throne of Saint Peter, but also the first occasion on which a Peruvian, with more than 20 years of service on our soil, leads the Catholic Church as Supreme Pontiff.” She added: “The Pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru.” The new pope holds Peruvian citizenship, after having lived and worked in the country on at least three separate occasions since the 1980s – with a period back in Chicago in the early 2000s – and only left Peru in 2023, when he was appointed to a position at the Vatican. In his first appearance from the Vatican balcony, Leo XIV briefly switched from Italian to Spanish to address the faithful “from my beloved diocese of Chiclayo, in Peru,” where he served as bishop for over a decade. In Colombia, the interior minister, Armando Benedetti, posted on social media that the years spent in Peru “mean the new pope is once again a Latin American.” Some posts on social media jokingly claimed that the new pope is “more Latino than the entire cast of Emilia Pérez,” referencing the French film that sparked controversy over its portrayal of Mexico. The prime minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez has offered his congratulations on social media. He wrote: “Congratulations to the entire Catholic Church for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV as @Pontifex_es. May your pontificate contribute to strengthening dialogue and the defense of human rights in a world in need of hope and unity.” The Greek prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also added his voice to leaders welcoming the news of the election of the Chicago-born pontiff. He said: “Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV. Your leadership comes at a time when the world faces profound challenges but also great opportunities for unity, compassion, and dialogue among peoples and faiths.” Greece, like fellow Christian Orthodox Cyprus, have small but ancient Catholic communities that Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, made a point of visiting as part of his emphasis on the peripheries during his twelve-year tenure. Share your views on Pope Leo XIV. Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, has become the first American pope to lead the Roman Catholic church. We’d like to hear your thoughts about the first clergyman from the US to lead the Roman Catholic church. In a 2012 address to the world Synod of Bishops, Father Robert Francis Prevost, who became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, said that “Western mass media is extraordinarily effective in fostering within the general public enormous sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the Gospel — for example abortion, homosexual lifestyle, euthanasia”. In the remarks, which he also read portions of for a video produced by the Catholic News Service, a news agency owned by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the cleric added: The sympathy for anti-Christian lifestyles choices that mass media fosters is so brilliantly and artfully engrained in the viewing public that when people hear the Christian message it often inevitably seems ideological and emotionally cruel by contrast to the humaneness of the anti-Christian perspective. Catholic pastors who preach against the legalization of abortion or the redefinition of marriage are portrayed as being ideologically driven, severe and uncaring. … Note for example how alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children are so benignly and sympathetically portrayed in television programs and cinema today. The video illustrates his criticism of the “homosexual lifestyle” and “same-sex partners and their adopted children” with clips from two US sitcoms, The New Normal and Modern Family. The cleric also called for a “new evangelization to counter these mass media-produced distortions of religious and ethical reality”. Former US president Barack Obama congratulated the “fellow Chicagoan” Pope Leo XIV in a social media post. “Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. This is a historic day for the United States, and we will pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.” Villanova University, the Catholic institution in Pennsylvania where Pope Leo XIV is an alumnus, celebrated the pope’s election in a statement. “As an Augustinian Catholic institution, we celebrate this significant day for our University community and the global Church. Villanova, built on the teachings of St. Augustine, has always been grounded in advancing a deeper understanding of the fundamental relationship between faith and reason—between spirituality and wisdom,” said University President the Rev Peter M Donohue. “With today’s election of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, I cannot help but reflect on what his Augustinian papacy will mean to our University community and our world. Known for his humility, gentle spirit, prudence and warmth, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership offers an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our educational mission,” he said. British prime minister Keir Starmer posted a statement on X, calling it “a momentous moment.” “The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and globally, and begins a new chapter for the leadership of the Church and in the world“ the statement reads. “Pope Leo is the first American Pope. This is a momentous moment. As Pope Francis’ papacy showed, the Holy See has a special role to play in bringing people and nations together to address the major issues of our time; especially on climate change, alleviating poverty and promoting peace and justice across the world” he adds. An account on X widely believed to belong to the new pope offers a short tour of his interests. He tweeted and retweeted posts in both Spanish and English, reflecting his American heritage and his missionary work in Peru. He was close with his predecessor, Pope Francis, and tweeted prayers for the former pontiff’s health in recent months. Leo also tweeted in disagreement with vice president JD Vance. In February of this year, Leo posted two articles that took issue with the stance by Vance, also a Catholic, on immigration. One article was headlined “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” In 2020 and 2021, he used his account to encourage followers to follow social distancing measures and get the covid-19 vaccine. Also in 2020, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Leo tweeted, “We need to hear more from leaders in the Church, to reject racism and seek justice.” JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, the US state where Pope Leo XIV was born, welcomed the new pope in a social media post. “A historic moment as we witness the first American leading the Catholic Church,” he wrote. “Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leo XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace.” President Donald Trump said he was “surprised” and called it a “great honor” to have an American pope. He added that he is “happy” with the choice when speaking with reporters. US vice president JD Vance congratulated the new pope in a post on X. “Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!” Vance wrote. As we reported earlier, Pope Leo XIV had criticized some members of the Trump administration on social media, including JD Vance. The late Pope Francis also had a complicated relationship with the vice president. The prime minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni extended her wishes for Pope Leo XIV in a post on X. “I extend my most sincere wishes to Pope Leo XIV for the beginning of his pontificate. In a time marked by conflict and unrest, his words from the Loggia delle Benedizioni are a powerful call for peace, brotherhood and responsibility. A spiritual legacy that follows the path traced by Pope Francis, and that Italy looks at with respect and hope.” 69-year-old US cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, prompted celebration and delight among more than 100,000 pilgrims and tourists in St Peter’s Square. The moderate, Chicago-born cardinal was given senior roles by Pope Francis, and has significant missionary experience in Peru having served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo. He was elected on the second day of conclave, securing a majority of votes among 133 cardinal electors. Global leaders, including US president Donald Trump and key European heads of state and government, offered their congratulations for the new head of the Roman Catholic church. But between wars, migration, the climate crisis and divisions in his church, the new leader has no shortage of challenges ahead. That’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, but Marina Dunbar will guide you through the evening in Rome with the latest updates. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex on his election to the See of Saint Peter and the beginning of his pontificate. Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s consistent position in upholding international law, condemning the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine, and protecting the rights of innocent civilians. At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace. I wish His Holiness Leo XIV wisdom, inspiration, and strength—both spiritual and physical—in carrying out his noble mission. Ad multos annos!” French president Emmanuel Macron: “A historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful. To Pope Leo XIV, and to all Catholics in France and around the world, I extend a message of fraternity. On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope.” Russian president Vladimir Putin: “I am confident that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will continue to develop on the basis of the Christian values that unite us.” European Council president António Costa: “I warmly welcome the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, a moment of hope for millions around the world. In times of division and uncertainty, his spiritual leadership can help inspire unity, compassion, and peace. The European Union and the Holy See share a deep commitment to human dignity. I’m looking forward to working together in our shared pursuit of the common good.” US state secretary Marco Rubio: “The United States looks forward to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the first American pontiff.” Lots of other European leaders also published their best wishes, including Spain’s Pedro Sánchez, Poland’s Andrzej Duda and Donald Tusk, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Portugal’s Luís Montenegro, Austria’s Christian Stocker, Czech Republic’s Petr Fiala, the Netherlands’ Dick Schoof and many, many others. Vatican’s news service has now posted a lengthy biography of the new pope. I have read it for you, so here are the key facts about Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost: 69-year-old American first Augustinian Pope born in Chicago, Illinois to parents of French, Italian and Spanish decent has two brothers, Luis Martin and John Joseph studied in the US and entered the notiviate in Saint Louis, US, before receiving theological education in Chicago was sent to Rome at the age of 27 to study canon law, where he was ordained priest his long-standing connection with Peru dates back to 1985, when he served in an Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Peru he later joined a separate mission in Trujillo, Peru he was made bishop of Chiclayo, Peru in 2015 promoted to archbishop in 2023 and created cardinal in 2024 From conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, to migration, the climate crisis and schisms in the church, the honeymoon period for the new pope will be short. The Roman Catholic church has a new leader, the Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Once the prayers are over and the crowds have dispersed from St Peter’s Square, what issues must the new pope grapple with? Church unity A key task will be to strengthen unity within the church amid growing polarisation in the world and different views and expectations within the church. Some observers believe there is a real risk of schism after 20 years in which there have been popes on either end of the spectrum: the traditional/conservative Benedict XVI, and the liberal/progressive Francis. International diplomacy The pope has an important role to play on the international stage, particularly to ensure that religion does not become a fault line. He will face ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan plus the politically divisive issues of migration, the climate crisis, religious freedom and human rights. Sexual abuse The legacy of sexual abuse cast a long shadow over Francis’s papacy. He was slow to grasp the scale and systemic nature of the problem, and at first did not understand the pain and anger of survivors. That pain has not gone away, and the new pope’s approach will inevitably come under intense scrutiny. Governance The new pope will need to take decisions on governance within the church, including the pace of change and levels of inclusion regarding laity and women. He will need to make key appointments within days to get the new papacy up and running. Vatican finances There are two aspects to this for the new pope’s attention: general oversight and transparency, on which there was significant progress under Pope Francis but still more to do; and the unsustainable levels of deficit in the Vatican finances, which deteriorated during Francis’s papacy. Sexuality and identity Francis shifted the church’s dial on issues relating to sexuality and identity, condemning discrimination against LGBTQ+ people, meeting trans men and women and authorising the blessings of same sex couples. Francis’s standpoint prompted a backlash among traditionalists, and the new pope will be watched closely for his views. Read more about papal in-tray: Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson responded to the news about the new pope on social media saying: Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon. It appears the new pope is active on social media. Given what seems to be his previous criticism towards some members of the Trump administration, such as this comment towards JD Vance or perhaps this one, their relationship will be one to watch. First congratulations are in from the US president, Donald Trump, who said on Truth Social: Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment! In his first comments, the new pope calls for the light of Christ to serve “as the bridge” to God’s love. He recalls the words of St Augustine: For you I am a bishop; but with you I am a Christian. He also says a few words addressed to the church of Rome, and thanks his (now former) diocese in Chiclayo in Peru. He leads the faithful in St Peter’s Square in prayer, with Ave Maria. In his first comments in Italian, Pope Leo XIV says he wants this message of peace to “enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.” Paying tribute to Pope Francis, he urges faithful to “move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.” He also thanks fellow cardinals for choosing him for the role. The newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States, appears on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. The new pope, US cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, will be known as Pope Leo XIV. It’s been a long while since we had a pope with this name: last Leo, Leo XIII, was elected in 1878 and served until his death in 1903. We have an American pope! Here’s our 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. And here’s the announcement… It’s just over an hour now since the white smoke, so we should see the new pope for the first time fairly soon. It will be the French cardinal protodeacon Dominique Mamberti who will announce the new pope to the world, with the historic phrase: “Habemus Papam!”. Unless, that it, he is the one who was elected! Daniel writes in to make a good point that “the baptismal name given in the announcement will be the latinized version of it.” Jorge Mario was “Giorgium Marium”, Joseph was “Josefus” and Karol was “Karolum”. Let’s see who is it now. from St Peter’s Square Raul Paredes and his family, from Colombia, were dancing with flags of their home country draped over their shoulders as the bells of St Peter’s Basilica confirmed that a new pope had been found. The family had booked their visit to Rome in December and had been hoping to see the late Pope Francis. “But then Francis got sick and suddenly died,” said Paredes. “But still, we crossed the Atlantic to be here for this incredible moment in history.” Parades admired Francis because, as a divorced Catholic, he felt welcomed by the church. “I hope we now get someone similar.” from St Peter’s Square There was a huge rush of journalists from the Vatican’s press centre who ran out on to the square to capture the immediate reaction. The rumour, the feeling that it would happen today was starting to build throughout the day. That seems to have begun when Cardinal Battista Re said this morning that he hopes to see the white smoke today. The atmosphere is absolutely incredible, I have never seen anything like it. Could it be any of the favourites we talked about? Or someone else? Surely not too long now before we learn that. If you’re wondering about the timing of that next steps, here’s Angela Giuffrida and Harriet Sherwood: When Jorge Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, was elected in March 2013, his identity was revealed about 45 minutes after the white smoke when he appeared on the balcony above St Peter’s Square. Once the new pope appears on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, we will hear a simple message: Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam! Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum dominum, dominum [baptismal name], Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem [surname], qui sibi nomen imposuit [papal name]. … which translates to: I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope! The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Father, Lord [baptismal name], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname], who takes to himself the name [papal name]. But who is it? Once the pope is elected, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him: “Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?” If he agrees, he must decide his papal name. The cardinals will pledge obedience to the new pope. Then he will be taken into the adjacent Room of Tears, where he will change from his scarlet cardinal’s outfit into a white papal cassock. Usually small, medium and large cassocks are made in advance. This time it is thought the Vatican is recycling cassocks made for previous conclaves. The new pope is then led to the main balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to greet the crowds, where the famous words “Habemus Papam” will be said. And the bells are ringing now, too. No ambiguity there: we have got a new pope! It looks like we’ve got a new pope, everyone! As we wait, the entire gulls family is back on the roof! The challenge with this afternoon session is the uncertainty – we understand that won’t get any signal after the fourth round of voting unless a new pope is elected. Or, to put it simply, we will either see white smoke or nothing. And if it’s nothing, the wait will stretch into the evening, with the fifth round expected to conclude around 7 p.m. local time. A quick reminder: our live stream at the top of this blog is still active, showing the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. Right, I promised you yesterday that we would get back to the question of the Vatican (sea)gulls and how did they end up there, quite a way in-land. Going by what you told me in your emails (thank you!), the explanation is fairly simple. Alick very helpfully told me that: The question is simply resolved if you use the correct term. These birds are ‘gulls’ not ‘seagulls’. Gulls are not exclusively sea dwelling birds. Most species are coastal and at various times of the year various species, all across the world, venture inland to feed and breed. Several of the largest gull breeding colonies in the UK are on upland moors. I’ve seen Pallas’s Gull in Kazakhstan – several hundred miles from the sea. Chris offered a similar answer: Gulls (for they are officially this, not seagulls) are found not just at sea. Many range inland for food, though often they will roost together in huge numbers on the sea at night. If you live in a coastal area one can see very early in the morning and again in the evening, the gulls, in large flocks, commuting back and forth between their inland feeding areas (cities, refuse dumps, ploughed fields etc) and their marine roosts, which vary according to wind and wave direction. … and it turns out we have some good writing on this on the Guardian already – just not in the Roman context, but the answer is broadly the same. Separately, there is a little plot twist as Guy spotted that the seagulls (or gulls, sorry!) on the roof could be… a little family! My wife and I are sure that the two gulls seen near the famous chimney are a nesting pair. We were quite mesmerised by them this afternoon (Wednesday) as we watched the live TV feed while waiting for the black smoke. Some time around 6pm a small chick appeared, clearly silhouetted against the sky. One of the parents fed it and it disappeared again. We imagine the nest must be in some cavity under the roof tiles. Did anybody else see that little chick? Here is the photo evidence. And that’s the secret of the Roman gulls. Glad we cleared that up. Give it another day and we will have to give them names. Some people appear to be prepared for a long, long wait. The cardinals were expected to be back in the Sistine Chapel at 4.30pm local time, and we understand that they have just gone in. So the fourth vote should be now getting under way any moment now. The next possible smoke would be probably around 5.30pm local time, but only if they elected a pope. That’s the round in which Benedict XVI was elected in 2005. Otherwise, we will have to wait until the fifth round is done, around 7pm, when we will get a smoke signal, whatever the result. But keep in mind that all these timings are purely for guidance: it may be earlier, may be later, and it’s only up to the 133 cardinals to decide the timings. I know, not very helpful. But I don’t make the rules! There are thought to be a number of different factions seeking to shape the outcome of the conclave. Broadly speaking, they can be characterised as progressives, conservatives, unifiers and the Italian contingent. Those involved in lobbying – including cardinal electors and cardinals ineligible to take part in the conclave as they are 80 or older – are hoping to sway newer, less experienced cardinals. About 80% of the 133 cardinal electors have not taken part in a conclave before; 21 were appointed just four months before Francis’s death. Some believe this means there is everything to play for. The progressives include those who want to preserve Francis’s legacy and push forward on his priorities. Issues such as inequality, marginalisation, the climate crisis and migration are important. They also want more lay people, including women, appointed to important Vatican positions; an orientation on the global south, where the Roman Catholic church is seeing its greatest growth; and an emphasis on a “poor church for the poor” rather than the pomp and rituals beloved of the traditionalists. You can read the full piece here: Activists belonging to a group who held a peaceful protest aimed at calling out the “injustice” against women in the Catholic church were detained by Vatican police, allegedly because they were deemed a “threat to security”. On Wednesday afternoon, as the cardinals began voting for the next pope, women from the UK-based Catholic Women’s Ordination (CWO) emitted pink smoke into the air on Rome’s Gianicolo hill, which overlooks St Peter’s Basilica. Later, as they gathered in St Peter’s square to wait for the outcome of the first conclave vote, they were surrounded by a group of police in plain clothes. “They swooped in and said, ‘Okay, ladies, documents, please,” said Miriam Duignan, who was dressed in pink. “I protested furiously.” The women, along with three nuns who just so happened to be talking to them, were taken to the Vatican’s police station. Duignan claimed that a police officer questioned her over the peaceful protest, for which the group had a permit. “But he said ‘you are still perceived as a security threat by the Vatican’.” The activists, who for years have been battling for women to become priests, were let go but banned from entering Vatican city for the remainder of the conclave. It is believed they were being watched after being arrested during a protest close to the Vatican in 2022. As the lunchbreak continues, thousands of pilgrims in the Vatican are trying to kill some time with all sorts of games and activities … The cardinals are expected to be back in the Sistine Chapel around 4.30pm local time (3.30 BST). Vatican official has just told me there are 6,000 media representatives from 90 countries here to cover the conclave. Black smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel chimney before lunch, indicating no decision on who should be the next pope after three rounds of votes. 133 cardinal elects are now taking a lunch break after the two morning votes. Two more rounds are scheduled for this afternoon/evening, starting from 4.30pm local time (3.30pm BST). Three out of last five popes were elected on the second day of conclave, but this year’s vote has a record-high number of electors, making the process more complex than usual. Historically, some of the conclaves were really drawn out: in 13th century, they needed three years, over 1,000 days, to choose Gregory X. There was also one that ended on the first day, when Julius II in 1503 was elected after just 10 hours. But looking at the last 150 years, these days it is usually a much shorter process: the longest election, of Pius XI in 1922, took 5 days. Francis was elected on the second day in 2013, after five rounds of voting. Benedict XVI needed just four rounds to be confirmed as the new pope in 2005, as did John Paul I in 1978. A bit more time was needed to confirm John Paul II – three days, eight rounds – in 1978, and John XXIII in 1958, with 11 votes over four days. But then his immediate predecessor, Pius XII was elected after just three rounds. So, the recent history seems to suggest they usually need 2 or 3 days, and we could be close to that moment. Or not: since the process is so secretive and there are so many moving elements with a record-high number of cardinals involved in the process this year, there’s no way to predict what happens behind the closed doors. There will be two further votes this afternoon and into the evening. But first, it’s time for lunch! The cardinals are expected to be back in the Sistine Chapel around 4.30pm local time (3.30pm London). As per earlier briefings, we were meant to see black smoke only if they failed to choose the pope before the lunch break, so at the conclusion of the two morning rounds. That takes us to three votes so far, with no conclusion. Interestingly, we got black smoke much earlier than we expected the morning rounds to conclude, which suggests the 133 cardinals have got the hang of it now and vote much more efficiently than last night. No decision on the pope again. The chimney cam is back (and so are the seagulls; I will come back to this later). Our live stream at the top is showing the chimney, too – although, as explained earlier, there is no guarantee we are going to get any smoke after the first round of voting. Let’s wait and see. In yesterday’s blog, we covered the profiles of most of the favourites, including the Italians – Vatican’s secretary of state Pietro Parolin and Bologna archbishop Matteo Zuppi – but also Filipino prelate Luis Antonio Tagle, Peter Turkson of Ghana, Péter Erdő of Hungary… But then remember the old saying: “he who enters the conclave as pope, leaves it as a cardinal,” as few frontrunners at the start of the process make it through the successive rounds of voting. You can catch up on their profiles here: But the Italian media are digging ever deeper to get some new anecdotes and stories about the candidates. Corriere della Sera reported today on rumours about the rising odds of the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, adding that “until a month ago, his cousin, a former footballer from the 70s and an unobtainable Panini [collection] sticker, was better known.” If you want to see the latest scenes from the Vatican, there is now a live stream showing St Peter’s Square and the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel pinned at the top of this page. What makes today slightly more tricky to follow is that while we have four rounds of voting, we may not get smoke after every one of them. As I said earlier, there will be up four rounds of voting today, expected roughly around 9.30am and midday local time, and then after a long lunch break, again at 5.30pm and 7pm local time. But according to the Italian media, what we see will depend on the results of the votes inside the Sistine Chapel. If the cardinals do elect a new pope, we should know straight away, with white smoke. But if they don’t, we will only see black smoke at the end of each voting session – morning or afternoon – and not after every vote. This means we will have to spend even more time looking closely at the chimney to get an idea of what is happening inside. After a good night sleep in the Santa Marta guesthouse in the Vatican and a morning mass, 133 cardinals electors will soon be back in the Sistine Chapel for another rounds of voting on who should be the next pope. The electors met earlier to celebrate mass and pray in the Pauline Chapel, and are due to move to the Sistine Chapel for prayers and votes. There will be up four rounds of voting today, expected roughly around 9.30am and midday local time, and then after a long lunch break, again at 5.30pm and 7pm local time. If you look at recent history, three of the last five popes were elected on the second day, so it’s fair to say we could see white smoke today. The majority required is 89 votes. But then again this conclave is like no other, with the largest and most diverse electorate of 133 cardinals from 70 countries, many of whom never met before the events of the last few weeks. We will bring you all the latest. It’s Thursday, 8 May 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live. Good morning.
Author: Helen Livingstone (now); Léonie Chao-Fong, Marina Dunbar and Jakub Krupa (earlier)