Leo, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost, a U.S. native is now the new pope, Leo XIV. He was described by the Vatican as the “second pope from the Americas,” to Francis’ first. Like Francis, Leo is known for his concern for the poor and marginalized, and in his first Sunday blessing as pope, quoted Francis and called for ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, the subjects of Francis’ final message to the world.
On the first evening, the cardinals cast their first-round votes, but black smoke billowed from the chimney, meaning no pope was chosen. The next morning, the cardinals returned to the Sistine Chapel and two more ballots were cast, but black smoke emerged once again. Prevost’s name had begun to emerge from relative obscurity even before the conclave began. Cardinal Wilton Gregory said, “I don’t remember any particular intervention, but I do believe he engaged quite effectively in the smaller group conversations.”
While most conclaves in past times stretched for weeks, Prevost’s election began to take shape on the second day. It was told by Gregory that, “There was a great movement on the second day, a great movement within the body that was there and there could be nothing other than the grace of God moving us toward this consensus.” After Leo XIV stepped on the balcony of St. Peter’s BasilicaHe mentioned Pope Francis twice and explicitly said he wants to pick up where the late pope left off on that very balcony on Easter, before giving the Urbi et Orbi blessing, meaning “the city and the world.”
Source:
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/the-vatican/leo-became-unexpected-pope-rcna206003
Source:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/new-american-pope-leo-xiv-robert-prevost/story?id=121604332
