THE Roman Catholic Church has announced a new Pope on Thursday, May 8, 2025. This came after two days of praying and voting, with white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney signifying that the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church worldwide.
Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced that the Cardinals have elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope, making him the first pontiff of United States origin in history.
Mamberti announced with the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam” (We have a Pope) to tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, eagerly awaiting the announcement.
The ICIR reports that Robert Francis will be known as Pope Leo XIV, and is the first pontiff to have been born in the United States to succeed late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, after a 12-year papacy.
At 69 years old and originally from Chicago, Prevost has spent most of his career serving as a missionary in Peru from 2015 to 2023.
Prevost has become the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church and was known for his efforts to modernise the traditionally conservative institution.
He has drawn attention from fellow clergy for his quiet demeanor and strong support of Pope Francis, particularly his dedication to social justice causes.
Francis brought him to Rome to lead the Vatican office responsible for selecting Catholic bishops worldwide, giving him significant influence in the appointment of many bishops around the globe.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues.