Cardinal Robert Prevost emerges for the first time as Pope Leo XIV. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty

By Rachel Raposas

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. His papal name is Pope Leo XIV.

White smoke finally rose from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel on the afternoon of Thursday, May 8, signaling to onlookers that the voting cardinals have come to a two-thirds consensus and decided on a new pope. The conclave, which began on May 7, lasted two days.

A short time later, protodeacon of the College of Cardinals came out onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and announced "habemus papam," which means "we have a pope."

The new pope, 69, then stepped out onto the balcony for the first time — and his first words were "peace be with you."

He also paid tribute to Pope Francis, saying that the late pontiff "blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the entire world that morning of Easter."

"Allow me to follow up on that blessing," the new pope added during the emotional speech, before adding: "God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail."

White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Born in Chicago, previously, he was the leader of the Augustinian order and in 2023 he was appointed by Francis to the Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from across the globe.

He also has missionary experience in Peru, serving as the bishop of the city of Chiclayo,.

The conclave, the historically secretive process of choosing a new pope, involves rounds of voting among members of the College of Cardinals who are under 80 years old. In the 2025 conclave, there were 135 cardinals who were eligible to vote, although two were unable to attend due to health reasons.

At 133 cardinals, this marked the most electors to ever vote in a conclave — a voting body of 115 elected Pope Francis — and 108 of those were installed by the late pontiff, who was elected on the fifth ballot back in 2013, which was cast the day after the conclave began.

Francis sought to diversify the College of Cardinals during his papacy. He was the first Latin American pope, and the first non-European pope since the eighth century, and in his 13 years as pontiff, he appointed many cardinals from Africa, South America and Asia, per NPR.