It took less than two days of voting to today (8 May) confirm Prevost – whose papal name will be Pope Leo XIV – as the new head of the Catholic church, in what marks a historic moment as the 69-year-old becomes the first ever American to assume the position.
He takes over after the death of Pope Francis, who had served as the pope between 2013 and 2025, before losing his life last month following a long period spent in hospital.
The 88-year-old died on Easter Monday, and following a funeral which saw political and religious leaders from across the world attend, the cardinals in Vatican City gathered to submit their votes.
The new pope greeted his adoring supporters at St Peter’s Square (BBC)
When white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, it became clear that they had come to a quick decision, and around an hour after, Pope Leo emerged on the balcony of the chapel to greet the thousands of adoring supporters in attendance.
Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti confirmed the election by announcing ‘Habemus Papam’ – which translates to ‘We have a Pope’ before introducing Pope Francis’ successor by his papal name.
While Pope Leo, who was born in Chicago, is seen as something of a centrist, he has long embraced marginalised groups, much like his predecessor Pope Francis.
Following Francis’ death, the Vatican made an official statement, saying: “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.”
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
Cardinal Robert Prevost – Pope Leo XIIV (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
The voting result may well come as a surprise to Robert Barron, the man who was appointed by Donald Trump as the new White House Commission on Religious Liberty.
He has shared his doubts about the potential of an American pope, saying: “Cardinal George of Chicago, of happy memory, was one of my great mentors, and he said: ‘Look, until America goes into political decline, there won’t be an American pope’.
“And his point was, if America is kind of running the world politically, culturally, economically, they don’t want America running the world religiously.
“So, I think there’s some truth to that, that we’re such a superpower and so dominant, they don’t wanna give us, also, control over the church.”
Featured Image Credit: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Donald Trump has reacted to the historic election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as the first American pope on social media.
The election of Cardinal Prevost – now Pope Leo XIV – was confirmed earlier today (8 May) after white smoke was seen erupting from the chimney of the Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel.
Pope Leo XIV takes over the role as head of the Catholic church from Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday after spending several months battling illness.
His election marks a historic moment for US, as the 69-year-old is now the first ever American to assume the position.
Keen to cash in on the moment was President Trump, who wasted no time in referring to the election of Pope Leo XIV as a ‘great honour’ for America.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope,” he wrote his Truth Social platform.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
More to follow.
Featured Image Credit: (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Image
White smoke has been sighted at the Vatican City’s Sistine Chapel, confirming the election of a new pope.
The identity of the new pontiff is yet to be officially confirmed, however, a senior cardinal will confirm the election by announcing ‘Habemus Papam’ – which translates to ‘We have a Pope’ before introducing Pope Francis’ successor by his papal name.
The papal conclave officially began on 7 May, 16 days after Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88.
Following his death on Easter Monday (21 April), the Vatican paid tribute to the Argentinean-born pope, who had served in his position since 2013.
They said: “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.”
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church,” the statement continued.
“He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.”
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
Cardinals have elected a new pope following Pope Francis’ death (Massimo Valicchia/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Pope Francis’ last words
Pope Francis also expressed gratitude in his final words to Massimiliano Strappetti, the nurse who he credits with saving his life, after she recommended he needed colon surgery.
According to Vatican News, he told her: “Thank you for bringing me back to the Square”, before passing away the next morning after waving goodbye.
Following the Pope’s funeral and the traditional days of mourning, it was time for cardinals to elect the next candidate to become the head of the catholic church.
The new pontiff will succeed Pope Francis (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
What was the process for electing a new pope?
As can be seen in the 2024 Amazon Prime political thriller of the same name, the conclave involves the scarlet-clad men walking from their homes at Casa Santa Martin to the Sistine Chapel.
Each cardinal is allocated a desk with a pen and paper, where they confirm their vote for the next pontiff.
Before the pope is confirmed, ballot papers are counted and recounted before being being threaded with a needle into a bundle.
Papers are then burned in a stove with chemicals added depending on the result. If there is no result, chemicals are added to make the smoke black, but if there is a successful candidate – as we have seen today – the chemicals turn the smoke white.
Featured Image Credit: (Sky News)
Topics: Pope Francis, World News, Religion
Donald Trump has announced that America has reached a trade agreement with the UK.
The US president made the ‘historic’ announcement in the Oval Office while on a video call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Thursday (8 May).
The 78-year-old remained cautiously optimistic as ‘final details are being written up’, but also noted that ‘just about everything has been approved’.
Trump explained that US chemical and industrial companies will now be getting improved access to UK markets.
He said: “The deal includes billions of dollars of increased market access for American exports, especially in agriculture, dramatically increasing access for American beef, ethanol, and virtually all the products produced by our great farmers.”
Donald Trump says the US has reached a trade agreement with the UK (BBC)
“Today’s agreement with the UK is the first in a series of agreements on trade that my administration has been negotiating over the past four weeks,” Trump added.
“With this deal, the UK joins the United States in affirming that reciprocity and fairness is an essential and vital principle of international trade.”
Starmer called it ‘a really fantastic, historic day’ and thanked Trump’s team of negotiators for coming up with a fair deal.
They did ‘an incredible job, a very professional job,’ he said.
“This is going to boost trade, between, and across our countries,” the Prime Minister believes. “It’s going to not only protect jobs, but create jobs, opening market access.”
The 62-year-old said ‘the timing couldn’t be more apt’ because it was ’80 years ago today that victory came for Europe after and at the end of the Second World War’.
He pointed out that, at the time, ‘the UK and the US stood together as the closest of allies’.
PM Sir Keir Starmer was delighted with the outcome (BBC)
“To be able to announce this great deal on the same day, 80 years forward, almost at the same hour – and as we were 80 years ago with the UK, the US standing side by side – I think is incredibly important and makes this truly historic,” he added.
Explaining how both counties were able to come up with a deal, US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said: “They’ve agreed to open their markets, and that will add five billion US dollars of opportunity to American exporters.
“So the question is, why would they do that now, because they’ve never done it before? And we still have a 10 percent tariff on which will produce six billion US dollars of revenue for the United States.
“So the idea was, how did they keep their jobs, protect their economy and do the best for their people, while opening the market for us?”
He said the UK has ‘found the ways to do that so that we have new access, but the UK workers are protected, and that was the balance’.
Featured Image Credit: Carl Court – Pool/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, UK News, US News, Politics
Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has confirmed.
Announcing the news today (21 April) camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell said: “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father.”
Pope Francis had spent much of February at the Gemelli hospital in Rome after being admitted with pneumonia in both of his lungs and later struggling with acute respiratory failure.
He was later returned to The Vatican after being discharged from hospital on 23 March.
Vigils were held at St Peter’s Basilica as well as in towns and cities across Italy and abroad each night, while well-wishers also lit candles outside the Gemelli hospital, where he was first admitted on 14 February.
During his time in hospital, he was diagnosed with bronchitis and kidney issues, required blood transfusions and also a ventilator as he struggled to breathe.
The Pope has died aged 88 (Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)
“His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised,” the statement continued.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
The Buenos Aires-born Pope was elected at the age of 76 in 2013 to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, and took the name the Francis. He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936.
Pope Francis fought for inclusivity, environmental stewardship, and social justice during his 12 years inside the Vatican, notably calling for the decriminalisation of homosexuality and raising awareness of climate change.
He had also struggled with various health conditions during his time at the Vatican, including a spell with pneumonia in March 2023 and a colon operation in 2021.
He had been admitted to hospital in February (JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)
Before his passing, the Pope thanked people across the world for their support in a statement made via the Vatican, saying: “I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people. Thank you all.”
It is unclear at this point who will become the next bishop of Rome, with a voting process likely to last anywhere between 15 and 20 days, in what is known as a papal conclave.
The College of Cardinals will come together to elect the Church’s next head, voting four times per day until a candidate receives a major two-thirds of the vote.
Likely candidates include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Peter Erdö, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.
