Pope Leo XIV addresses Vatican crowd as new leader of the Catholic Church

And with that, an extraordinary day in Church history comes to a close. The white smoke has risen from the Sistine Chapel, and Catholics have a new pope: Robert Francis Prevost, now known to the world as Pope Leo XIV.

His election, while unexpected by many, confirms the old Roman saying: “Chi entra papa al conclave, esce cardinale – He who enters the conclave as pope, leaves as a cardinal.”

Indeed, none of the frontrunners, be it Vatican secretary of state Pietro Parolin or the widely admired cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, emerged victorious.

Once again, the Catholic Church has chosen a pontiff from the Americas, but not from Africa or Asia, as some had predicted. 

Leo XIV also becomes the first-ever US pope, a choice, though not without potential tensions ahead in the Trump era.

His election came after just four ballots over two days, making it one of the shortest conclaves in modern history, a sign that the cardinals were eager to restore leadership quickly and project unity following the death of Pope Francis.

Thank you for following our Euronews live coverage throughout the 2025 conclave.

It’s been an emotional and historic day in Vatican city. Here’s what you need to know:

• At 19:15 CET, the new Pope was announced to the public: Robert Francis Prevost, who chose the name Leo XIV (a surprise pick for many observers)

• White smoke emerged shortly after 18:00, signalling a successful vote. Prevost was elected on the second day of the conclave, during the fourth round of voting, making this one of the shortest conclaves in modern history - the shortest remains that of Pius XII in 1939, who was elected after just three rounds.

• Born in Chicago, he is the first pope from the United States, and also holds Peruvian citizenship, having served as bishop in Chiclayo, Peru.

• Though not a frontrunner, Pope Leo XIV was known within Church circles. Until now, he held a key Vatican post as prefect of the dicastery for bishops, overseeing bishop appointments worldwide, which is one of the most influential roles in the Catholic hierarchy (more about his background in our profile)

• In his first public address, the new pope repeatedly emphasised the theme of peace, describing it as “disarmed and disarming, humble, and coming from God.”

While Pope Leo XIV wasn’t a frontrunner heading into the conclave, he was certainly on the radar. He just wasn't widely known outside Church circles.

As the world meets its first-ever US Pope, many are asking: Who is Robert Francis Prevost?

Euronews takes a look at his background and rise through the Church ranks.

Here’s everything you need to know about the man now leading 1.4 billion Catholics across the world.

Who is Robert Francis Prevost, the cardinal elected Pope Leo XIV?

Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old American, has become the new pope, taking the name Leo XIV. He was previously the head of the office assessing bishop……

The choice of a papal name is never accidental and in selecting Leo XIV, the new Pope has aligned himself with a weighty historical legacy.

The last pontiff to bear the name, Leo XIII, is remembered as a figure who helped open the church to the modern world, while carefully preserving doctrinal tradition.

His most famous work, the 1891 encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum’, laid the foundation for Catholic social teaching, supporting workers’ rights, condemning both unregulated capitalism and socialism and emphasising the dignity of labour.

Leo XIII was intellectually progressive, engaging deeply with the challenges of industrial society. Yet he remained theologically conservative, defending Church authority and opposing secularism.

By choosing the name Leo, the new Pope may be signalling a desire to strike a similar balance: bridging tradition and modernity.

Congratulatory messages from world leaders have begun rapidly pouring in following the presentation to the public of Pope Leo XIV.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope for continued Vatican engagement, tweeting: “At this decisive moment for our country, we hope for the continued moral and spiritual support of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to restore justice and achieve a lasting peace.”

From Brussels, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president António Costa offered joint congratulations, tweeting they hope the new pontificate is “guided by wisdom and strength, as he leads the Catholic community and inspires the world through his commitment to peace and dialogue.”

French president Emmanuel Macron called the election “a historic moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful,” adding: “On this May 8th, may this new pontificate be one of peace and hope.”

In another groundbreaking moment for the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV is now officially the first pope in history who hails from the United States, a development once considered highly unlikely given Washington's geopolitical weight.

The election of Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal, has drawn swift reaction from across the world, including his compatriots.

On his social network Truth, US President Donald Trump said: “It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a great honor for our country,” he wrote, adding that he looks forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV, “a very meaningful moment”.

But Leo XIV’s background is not exclusively US-based. Holding dual US-Peruvian citizenship, he served as bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, before taking up a senior post in the Vatican as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a key position that made him a central figure in the Church.

In his first public remarks, Pope Leo XIV shared a deeply personal reflection on his spiritual roots and pastoral vision: “I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian."

He recalled St Augustine's words, ‘With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop," adding that “in that spirit, we can all walk together toward the homeland God has prepared for us.”

He offered a special greeting to the Church of Rome, calling for unity in building a missionary Church, one that “builds bridges, fosters dialogue, and is always open to receive, like this square, with open arms.”

Switching to Spanish, Pope Leo XIV also addressed his (now former) diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, with a heartfelt message.

To resounding applause from the over 100,000 faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square, the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV offered his first words to the world: “Peace be with you all.”

The crowd responded with chants of “Prevost, Prevost, Prevost”, celebrating the man behind the name, Robert Francis Prevost, now the 267th pontiff.

“I hope this greeting of peace enters your hearts,” the Pope continued, “reaches your families, every person, wherever they are. To all people, to all the earth: peace be with you.”

“This is the peace of the risen Christ: Disarmed and disarming, humble. It comes from God. God, who loves us all unconditionally,” he said.

He also paid tribute to his predecessor, recalling “the gentle yet always courageous voice of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome,” and expressed his thanks to his predecessor.

69-year-old American Robert Prevost has been announced as the new pope and has chosen Leo XIV as his papal name.

Prevost was brought to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church.

As a result, Prevost had a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals had.

Prior to the conclave, one strike against him was that there had long been a taboo against a American pope, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States in the secular sphere.

But Prevost, a Chicago native, is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

Prevost was also twice elected prior general, or top leader, of the Augustinian religious order, the 13th century order founded by St. Augustine.

Pope Francis clearly had an eye on him for years, moving him from the Augustinian leadership back to Peru in 2014 to serve as the administrator and later archbishop of Chiclayo.

He remained in that position, acquiring Peruvian citizenship in 2015, until Pope Francis brought him to Rome in 2023 to assume the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

In that job he would have kept in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that counts still counts the most Catholics.

Ever since he arrived in Rome, Prevost has kept a low public profile, but he is well known to the men who count.

Significantly, he presided over one of the most revolutionary reforms Pope Francis made, when he added three women to the voting bloc that decides which bishop nominations to forward to the pope.

In early 2025, Pope Francis again showed his esteem by appointing Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals, suggesting he may have been the former pontiff's choice in the conclave.

In a surprising turn, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope, taking the papal name Leo XIV.

Prevost was not among the top contenders mentioned in pre-conclave speculation, but neither was he entirely off the radar.

Many are asking why is it taking so long for the new pope to be revealed to the public. The answer lies in the carefully choreographed rituals that follow his election.

Once the white smoke signalled the cardinals' decision, the cardinal dean asks the pope-elect whether he accepts the election results. After his acceptance, the new pontiff enters the Room of Tears to wear the papal vestments and also to take some time for private prayer.

He then returns to the Sistine Chapel, where each cardinal individually pledges obedience. According to Vatican sources, the new pope is currently taking time to greet every cardinal individually.

Only after this will cardinal protodeacon Dominique Mamberti appear on the balcony to announce the identity of the new pope.

And that moment is now imminent.

Following the white smoke signalling the election of the 267th pope, ceremonial tradition quickly took over in the heart of St Peter’s Square.

The Vatican Gendarmerie Band and the Swiss Guard have entered the piazza, underscoring the solemnity and historic weight of the moment, with the anticipation building for the official announcement of who the new pope is from the basilica’s central balcony.

The bells of St Peter’s Basilica have rung out across Vatican City, confirming what the world has been waiting for: a new Pope has been elected.

Sometimes the colour of the smoke can be hard to make out so to avoid doubt, the ringing of the bells serves as a clearer signal that a decision has been made.

The newly elected pontiff is now in the so-called Room of Tears, a private chamber just off the Sistine Chapel.

It is here that the new pope changes into the papal vestments and takes a few moments for personal prayer and reflection before stepping into the global spotlight.

The identity of the new pope will be revealed shortly from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. From here, things move pretty quickly; the new pontiff is expected to be introduced to the crowds within an hour.

Tens of thousands were already in attendance as the first wisps of white smoke emerged from the chimney in St Peter's Square, eliciting applause and shouts from those present.

As the white smoke thickened, bells from St Peter's Basilica confirmed that the new pontiff had been elected. Chants were heard in the crowd as more people rushed the security gates on the roads leading to the square to get closer to the balcony where the new pope is expected to appear shortly.

The crowd has been further blessed with warm afternoon sun here in the Vatican today as they await to find out who will lead the Catholic Church from this evening forward.

White smoke is rising from the chimney of St Peter's Basilica — a new pope has been chosen.

At least 89 cardinals have agreed on the new pontiff, who is now being dressed in a cassock and is preparing to address the crowd in St Peter's Square.

The name of the new pope will be announced soon by Dominique Mamberti, the oldest member of the conclave who bears the title of cardinal deacon.

As the conclave continues, the faithful gather once again in Vatican City seeking shade during the hottest hours of the day.

St Peter’s historic colonnade, designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini for Pope Alexander VII, offers some welcome respite from the midday heat.

The moment smoke emerges from the chimney is the true climax for those in the square with crowds watching, and filming, closely.

While the papacy is one of the most revered roles on Earth, some hope they won't be chosen...

The fourth round of voting of the 2025 conclave is now under way inside the Sistine Chapel. If no candidate secures the required majority, a fifth vote will follow later this afternoon, before tonight’s expected smoke signal.

Why is anticipation building now? Because history suggests we may be nearing a decision. It took four ballots to elect Pope Benedict XVI and five for Pope Francis.

And if that pattern holds, we could have a new pope by this evening. 

Discussions in the conclave can often be tense, and cardinal electors can easily split among themselves into two or more factions.

By far the most divisive conclave in history was in 1378, leading to a schism within the Catholic Church and to a 40-year fight between opposing sides, with each electing its own pope.

This conclave was held from 7 to 9 April 1378 and was one of the shortest in the history of the Catholic Church. Cardinals elected Italian Bishop Bartolommeo Prignano, who took the name Urban VI and was the last non-cardinal elected pope.

According to historians, the French cardinals agreed to his election only under pressure from Italians who would not accept a French pontiff.

After his election, Pope Urban VI began preaching intemperately to the cardinals, even condemning the luxury of their lives and retinues.

Only four months later, in August 1378, the French cardinals met at Anagni, a small town in Central Italy, and declared his election invalid, proceeding to elect Robert of Geneva as pope on 20 September.

He took the name Clement VII, became the first "anti-pope" in history, and established his seat in the city of Avignon, now part of France.

Just tuning in? Here’s a recap from Euronews' Giorgia Orlandi on what you missed this morning and what to watch for this afternoon.

What you need to know:

• Still no pope. Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 11:51, right on schedule this time.

• The cardinal electors wrapped up their lunch break and will return to the Apostolic Palace at 15:45.

• The next voting session is set for 16:30. If no candidate reaches the required majority, a second round will follow.

• Keep an eye on the chimney around 19:00, or possibly earlier, depending on how the voting unfolds. Black or white smoke will signal the outcome.

Cardinals fail to elect new pope, next vote to come Thursday afternoon

On Thursday morning, cardinals failed once again to select a successor to the late Pope Francis, with thick black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel……

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is topping not only the bookmakers’ charts but also the hearts of meme-makers and younger Catholics.

Often dubbed the “Asian Francis” for his warmth, apparent affability and his progressive views, the 67-year-old Filipino cardinal has become a social media favourite in the lead-up to the conclave.

On TikTok, Tagle has gone viral with clips showcasing his charm and humour. In one widely shared video, he jokes that he knows only three Polish words: kielbasa (sausage), pierniczki (gingerbread), and vodka.

Other videos showing him singing along to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ during a 2019 event sparked criticism from some conservatives, as the song’s lyrics are considered fundamentally opposed to the Catholic doctrine.

Euronews culture has more on the ‘memeification’ process of this contender.

Behind the memeification of the conclave and the viral ‘Tagle core’

Hold onto your miters - this conclave is getting the meme treatment online, and Gen Z seem to have picked their favourite: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle...……

International bookies have reshuffled the odds as anticipation builds around the next round of conclave voting this afternoon.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines has now edged ahead of Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. Bookmaker William Hill has put Tagle at 3/0, just ahead of Parolin whose odds are 3/5.

The other Italian contenders, Cardinals Matteo Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, are holding steady with a solid 6/0. Meanwhile, Ghanaian cardinal Peter Turkson has seen his odds widen from 5/0 to 9/0, signalling a drop in bookmaker confidence.

The biggest mover is French cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, a known favourite of Pope Francis. His odds have plummeted from 33/0 to 18/0 in under a week, making him one to watch in the coming votes.

While the world waits for the announcement of the new pope, some are also asking themselves what his papal name will be.

In a tradition dating back to the 6th Century, when a cardinal is elected as pope, he picks a new name.

And those names are not chosen randomly. They indicate the pontiff's vision, giving a clue as to the direction of his papacy.

For example, Pope Francis took his name from Francis of Assisi, the 13th Century saint known for his humility.

So the next pope's name could indicate what lies ahead for the Catholic Church.

Our colleague Rory Sullivan explains more.

Cardinal electors are still gathered in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, but what are they looking for to make a decision?

According to Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, they should choose the person best suited to lead the church through a “difficult and complex” time.

Cardinal Re, who is 91 years old, is too old to take part in the voting but he led the final Mass in St Peter’s Basilica before the conclave started.

He urged his peers to set aside personal differences to find a leader who can awaken people's consciences and unify the church.

Read the full wrap of his remarks here.

With the conclave under way, all eyes are inevitably on the Sistine Chapel's chimney, waiting for a trickle of white or black smoke.

But in almost all live images broadcast by TV networks around the world, one character appears to be ever-present.

A seagull, perched on the roof of the Vatican, oblivious about being the centre of attention.

Almost immediately, the seagull became popular among Italian users on X, with the hashtag #gabbiano (Italian for seagull) trending.

Seagulls are common in coastal cities and are widespread in Rome, drawn there by the possibility of easily finding food among the metropolis' garbage.

After a lunch break in nearby Domus Sanctae Marthae, the 133 cardinal electors are expected to reach the apostolic palace at 15.45, Italian media outlet Sky TG24 says.

The first voting session of the afternoon is expected to take place around 16.30 inside the Sistine Chapel, the third vote of the day and the fourth overall of the 2025 conclave.

As we have mentioned before, if the new pope is elected after this vote, white smoke will appear from the Vatican chimney. If no pope is chosen, that will be signalled with black smoke.

All eyes will be on the chimney at around 19:30 for the result.

As cardinals electors gather in the Sistine Chapel, one thing is clear: whoever is chosen as the next pontiff will have to tackle plenty of issues, from deciding whether to continue the LGBTQ+ outreach started by the late Pope Francis to taking a clear stance - or not - on issues like climate change, the ethics of new technologies and migration.

Our colleagues Gavin Blackburn and Jesús Maturana have explored the positions of the leading candidates on key issues.

Read the full story here.

The election of the pope has been a political issue for centuries.

In the Middle Ages, the choice of the next pontiff was mainly a power struggle among the most influential families of Rome. During the Renaissance, it was a dispute among countries, like France or Spain, and powerful Italian cities. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Catholic kings had the right to veto on electing a pontiff, called "Jus exclusivae".

In recent times, the Vatican has claimed more autonomy from governments, but the pope's role in world politics is still relevant.

Our colleague Sergio Cantone explains why.

While cardinals electors are voting for the new pope, with no clues on the result after the second black smoke signal, one thing is (almost) sure: the person who will pronounce the famous words: "Habemus papam".

Dominique Mamberti, the oldest cardinal deacon of the conclave, will announce the new pontiff to the city and the world from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica.

Before him, the Frenchman Jean-Louis Tauran served as protodeacon for Pope Benedict XVI, and the Chilean Jorge Arturo Medina Estevez for Pope Francis

Mamberti will be replaced by the second-oldest cardinal deacon of the conclave only in one case: if he is himself the new pope.

A French cardinal born in Morocco, Mamberti is a leading figure in Vatican diplomacy and has held several relevant roles at the Holy See.



Our colleague from Rome's bureau Isidoro Patalano has more.

Dominique Mamberti at U.N. headquarters in New York, when he was the Vatican's Foreign Minister in 2012.

The crowd gathered in St Peter's Square reacted with applause to the black smoke signal coming out from the chimney.

The smoke came out at 11:51 am, on time and against predictions, while on the first day it arrived around two hours later than expected.

The conclave will now break for lunch and meet in the afternoon for another two rounds of voting, with the smoke expected by 7 pm -- or sooner, if the first round results in an agreement.

The first smoke of the day from the Sistine Chapel is black. This means no agreement was reached among the cardinals at the conclave in the first two voting sessions of the day.



After the lunch break, the voting procedure will resume this afternoon, with two other sessions expected. 

It could still be a decisive day: the last two popes have been elected on the second day of conclave.

Back in the 15th century, Cardinal Rodrigo Borja felt he had a foolproof way of persuading his colleagues to elect him as the new pope: buying their votes.

According to historians, the 1492 conclave was marked by allegations that Borja bought the votes of other cardinal electors by promising them lucrative appointments and material gifts.

That conclave took place in early August, exactly when Christopher Columbus was just about to set off from Spain, cross the Atlantic Ocean and land near what would later be called America.

Meanwhile, 23 cardinals entered the conclave in Rome, electing the new pope after five days: for the first time, the conclave was held in the Sistine Chapel, completed a few years before.

The Spanish Cardinal Borja managed to get chosen by bribing some of his colleagues with castles, landholdings and large amounts of silver amid attempts by the kings of France and Spain and the main Italian cities such as Genoa, Milan, Naples and Venice to influence the conclave.

Borja took office, choosing the name Alexander VI as the new pontiff. However, his papacy was one of the most disputed ever, leading his successor Pope Julius II to enact stronger rules against simony.

Pope Alexander VI became known also for his crucial role in dividing Latin America between Spain and Portugal. As new lands were being discovered overseas by the Europeans, he issued a papal bull in 1493, declaring that the world should be divided by an imaginary line running between the North Pole and the South Pole, to be drawn about 640 kilometres west of Cape Verde. From that moment on, everything that fell west of this line would have been assigned to Spain, while everything to the east belonged to Portugal.

This division was ratified in the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed on 7 June 1494 between the reigns of Spain and Portugal. It is the reason why all of Latin America was colonised by Spain -- except Brazil, which was part of the Portuguese realm.

The pope's election is also good for business in Rome.

According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the balconies in Via Paolo VI, offering the best view of the chimney, have been rented for €500 per day, mostly to various TV networks present for the conclave.

Other Italian media outlets report that the rent prices have reached as much as €1,000 per day.

Several small processions led by a crossbearer have arrived at St Peter's Square as we await the results of the conclave's morning vote -- or votes.

Some are heard singing hymns, and the atmosphere is expectant. However, the crowd gathered is much smaller than last night's, when an estimated 45,000 people came to see whether white or black smoke would appear above the Vatican.

Massive black clouds covered the sky above the square earlier in the morning, making many think we're in for a storm. However, the sun is now out, and the dark clouds are largely gone.

The second day of the conclave includes four voting sessions, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

But not each will be followed by a smoke signal. Indeed, if the 89-vote threshold is reached in any voting session, white smoke will arise from the Sistine Chapel's chimney. The first chance to see it is as early as 10:30, or as soon as the first voting round is completed.

If the required number of votes is not reached, black smoke will arise, but only after the second and the fourth ballots, meaning around noon and in the evening (or around 7 pm).

In short: if the new pontiff is not elected in the first and third voting sessions of the day, the cardinals will immediately proceed with the next round, meaning no need for black smoke.

Due to the conclave's closed-door nature, it is impossible to know who the cardinals are favouring at this point.

Yet the press and the insiders have said that Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle remain strong contenders on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Italian press has begun to suggest that Tagle might ask his supporters at the conclave to vote for Parolin, who seems the most electable at the moment. 

However, if Thursday ends without a new pontiff elected, that could mean it’s over for Parolin, as the cardinals might see the repeat votes as a sign it’s time to turn to another candidate.

The names of Matteo Zuppi and Pierbattista Pizzaballa are still getting traction, while the Spanish press reported that as many as three Spanish cardinals have become electable: Cristobal Lopez, Angel Fernandez Artime and Pablo Virgilio David.

The conclave's first day did not lead to the election of the new pontiff, as widely expected.

After the final Mass before the beginning of the conclave on Wednesday, ‘Pro Eligendo Pontifice’, officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re in St Peter's Basilica at 10 in the morning, the 133 cardinals electors were locked inside the Sistine Chapel.

According to a senior Vatican official, Cardinal Re urged the electors to choose someone capable of leading the Church through this "difficult and complex" period.

Around 40,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square to witness the first vote, applauding when the conclave doors closed.

The black smoke signal came in over two hours after the expected timing, leading to several speculations on the reasons for the delay. However, the explanation for the delay was that this is the largest conclave in the history of the Catholic Church, and each vote cast adds to the procedure, delaying the smoke.

Good morning!

The second day of the conclave started at the Vatican: the 133 cardinal electors gathered anew in the Sistine Chapel after the first black smoke was registered yesterday.

At 7:45 am, the cardinals attended Mass and started the voting procedure.

Four voting sessions are scheduled today: two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Two rounds of smoke signalling their decision will appear above St Peter's Square: one around noon and another around 7 p.m.

If the 89 votes required to elect a new pope are reached, we'll see white smoke. If not, black smoke will be emitted.