The message that Robert Prevost was elected came at 19.15 on Thursday when his name was read from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
It came as a surprise. He is the first pope from the USA, he was made a cardinal only a couple of years ago and seems to have been very close to Pope Francis.
A few minutes later, Leo XIV himself stepped out onto the balcony.
The smile was still but overflowing as he met the jubilant crowd with a slight bow. Now the leader of the Catholic Church's 1.4 billion followers, Leo XIV marked that he follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Francis.
Dressed in papal attire, white hat and with bright eyes, he gazed out over the gathered crowd in the Vatican. Pope Leo's first appeal was to the world to "build bridges through dialogue and through meetings".
Bishop in Peru
Former Cardinal Prevost has long been active in Latin America, is a Peruvian citizen and is a bishop in the country.
The first reactions were that he will follow the direction initiated by Pope Francis.
A few minutes after 18 o'clock, the symbolic smoke had risen from the specially built chimney for the conclave. Thus, it was clear that an absolute majority of the 133 cardinals had agreed on a new pope.
Church bells rang out shortly after the smoke signal rose towards the sky, after the voting in the Sistine Chapel and during the second day of the conclave.
It has gone relatively quickly, said Helena D'Arcy, editor-in-chief of Katolskt magazine, to TT.
Helena D'Arcy says that there was no clear favorite from the start:
It is also quite pleasing since it means that there has also been a fairly large unity.
Three sizes
According to D'Arcy, Robert Prevost was dressed in white in a small room adjacent to the Sistine Chapel – the papal attire had been prepared in three different sizes since one does not know in advance who will be elected.
Then, the leading cardinals proclaimed "Habemus Papam!" (We have a pope) from the basilica's balcony. Then followed Prevost's baptismal name, which is now replaced by the papal name Leo.
Earlier in the day, and for the second time during the second day of the conclave, black smoke had risen from the chimney.
To be elected pope, 89 votes were required – a two-thirds majority – but the actual result has been sealed.
Pope Francis died on April 21, 88 years old.
69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost, who was born in the USA, gets the papal name Leo XIV.
He was appointed bishop in 2015 by Pope Francis. Prior to that, he worked for a long time as a missionary in Peru.
Prevost was appointed cardinal in 2023.
The new pope is led after the election to the Hall of Tears, where he receives the clothes that a pope wears. Then, each cardinal comes forward to him to show their reverence.
The senior cardinal deacon goes out onto the balcony in the middle of St. Peter's Basilica's façade and announces "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam" ("I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope.")
Then, the new pope's baptismal name is announced, followed by his papal name.
The new pope goes in procession to the same balcony and after a short address, gives his first blessing Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world).
The day after the election, the pope celebrates his first mass as pope with the cardinals.
Source: The Catholic Church
