White smoke rises as the Catholic Church welcomes its 267th pontiff
White smoke floated above Vatican City, announcing a new era for the Catholic Church. The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as the historic announcement rang out: “Habemus Papam, Pope Leo XIV.”
U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the new pope and head of the Roman Catholic Church. He has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal announced to crowds in St. Peter’s Square. Now the 267th pope, Prevost, becomes the first U.S.-born pontiff in the Church’s history.
Known for his strong ties to Latin America, Pope Leo XIV is a moderate voice within the Church. He worked closely with local communities in Peru for years as a missionary, establishing trust and providing assistance in some of the most impoverished regions of the continent. People who know him say he is kind, grounded, and devoted to the principles of service and inclusion that Pope Francis promoted, with whom he was close.
As the bells of St. Peter’s rang out and the world watched, people waved different flags, cheered, and captured the moment on their phones as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a quiet, humble man from Chicago, stepped forward to lead the Catholic Church as its new pope.
