At the conclusion of each voting session, damp straw was ignited beneath the chapel chimney, generating black smoke to signify that no decision had been reached. For two consecutive days, observers in St. Peter’s Square and numerous viewers around the globe watched with anticipation at the chimney, interpreting each black plume as an indication of continued deliberation. Finally, on the morning of May 8 at exactly 11:47 a.m. local time, the dark smoke was replaced by white smoke, signaling that a candidate had achieved the necessary two-thirds majority.
Shortly thereafter, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, emerged onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. In a grave announcement, he declared: ‘I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!’ The global audience discovered that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago had been selected as the 267th successor to St. Peter, taking the regnal name Pope Leo XIV.
On Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, officials from the Vatican declared that Pope Francis had experienced a significant cerebrovascular incident. Despite receiving urgent medical care, His Holiness peacefully departed this life that afternoon at the age of 88. His 12-year tenure as pope was marked by an emphasis on social justice, care for the environment, and outreach to marginalized communities.
According to tradition, a Novemdiales is observed, marking a nine-day period of official mourning. Throughout this time, thousands of devotees paid their respects at St. Peter’s Basilica, where the late pontiff’s coffin was displayed. On April 30, a solemn funeral Mass was conducted by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, following which the Church officially entered the interregnum—sede vacante—awaiting the election of a new bishop of Rome.
The contemporary conclave originates from the reforms implemented by Pope Gregory X during the Second Council of Lyon in 1274, aimed at accelerating papal elections that were hindered by political meddling and excessive delays. The term ‘conclave’ derives from Latin, meaning ‘with a key,’ which refers to the secured environment that isolates the cardinals from outside influences.
Robert Francis Prevost was born in 1956 in Chicago, Illinois, to dedicated Catholic parents. After finishing his undergraduate education, he joined the Order of Saint Augustine. He was ordained as a priest in 1982 at the age of 27, and his initial ministry integrated academic endeavors—obtaining degrees in theology and canon law—with pastoral roles that included urban parishes and university chaplaincies.
Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on his recent appointment as Pope. It is a remarkable honor to acknowledge that he is the first American Pope. This is an exhilarating moment and a significant honor for our nation. I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to meet Pope Leo XIV, as it promises to be a profoundly meaningful occasion.
Although the focus is primarily on the white smoke, the daily experiences of the conclave, such as their dining arrangements, receive less attention. Cardinals stay at the Casa Santa Marta, a humble five-story guesthouse located near St. Peter’s Square, where they are provided with basic meals prepared by Vatican nuns. The menu typically features simple dishes.
The election of Pope Leo XIV, an American whose service has encompassed North America, Europe, and Latin America, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church. With his experience in Augustinian governance, pastoral work in Peru, and commitment to social teachings, the 267th pontiff is ready to expand upon Pope Francis’s legacy while introducing his own unique perspective to the international arena.
Donald Trump’s swift commendation on Truth Social highlights the election’s significant geopolitical implications. As global attention is drawn, Leo XIV’s initial steps—through sermons, diplomatic interactions, and governance reforms—will establish the character of a papacy that connects continents, generations, and cultures.
