American Cardinal Robert Prevost is the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The name he chose as Pope is Leo XIV. White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel shortly after 7:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 8, 2025, signaling the end of the fourth ballot and the election of a new Pontiff.
The Catholic Church now officially has its “leader” at the helm. Thousands of faithful and journalists who have flooded St. Peter’s Square burst into spontaneous applause as the eternal signal of the election of a new Pope filled the Italian sky.
The new Pope – whose name will be officially announced by the Cardinal Protodeacon with the historic “Habemus Papam” – was elected by the College of Cardinals that had met in conclave after the death of his predecessor. The Liberal Globe had predicted the election of this pope and the influence that Donald Trump would have in the election of the new pope in the Catholic Church. (please also read the analysis titled “Donald Trump’s long hand in the Conclave“).
The new pope is now led to a small room next to the Sistine Chapel, where he will don the white papal vestments.
The senior cardinal will shortly confirm the decision with the words “Habemus Papam” – Latin for “we have a Pope” – and present the new pontiff with his chosen papal name.
