New Pope emerges on 2nd Day of Conclave

Cardinal Rupert Prevost has graciously emerged as the new Pope of the universal Roman Catholic Church.

The new pope, who is the 267th Pontiff in the history of the Church, has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

The 69-year-old is the first American to emerge the Pope. He hails from the U.S.A. He had been the cardinal in charge of appointment of bishops in Vatican, and was serving in Peru as a Bishop prior to his emergence.

Earlier, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday evening, signalling that the 133 Roman Catholic cardinals gathered inside the Vatican had elected a new pope. Earlier, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on the evening of Thursday, May 8, 2025, signalling that the 133 Roman Catholic cardinals gathered inside the Vatican had elected a new pope.

The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers, priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted “Viva il papa!” after the white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky at 6:07 p.m. Waving flags from around the world.

Tens of thousands of people reportedly waited to learn who had won.

The smoke signal means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

The name of the new Pope was announced when a top cardinal utters the words “Habemus Papam!” — Latin for “We have a pope!” — from the loggia of the basilica. The cardinal then read the winner’s birth name in Latin and revealed the name he has chosen to be called.

The new pope is expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.

FN Blog