After days of mourning came a moment of hope. A sudden cheer erupted around St. Peter’s Square yesterday as the while smoke reached the sky above the Apostolic Palace, against the sky. The long-awaited sign that the conclave of 133 cardinals who were sealed behind closed doors since the previous morning had chosen a new pope.
The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out jubilant and clear. `Habemus Papam’ – we have a new Pope. The election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th pope, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, is a significant event for the Roman Catholic Church. In the 2,000-year history of the Church, this is the first time an American has been pope.
After four voting rounds, the conclave, consisting 133 cardinal electors, made a decision. Pope Francis’ open and dialogical style, which emphasizes synodality and unity within the Church’s broad worldwide community, is believed to be continued with the election of Pope Leo XIV.
As Pope Leo occupies the throne of St Peter, the world watches with bated breath, wondering how his leadership will shape the future of the Catholic Church in a time of global uncertainty and hope.
Who is Pope Leo XIV?
Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago in 1955 and comes from a mixed heritage, including Spanish, French and Italian ancestry. He became a member of the Order of St. Augustine in 1977, and in 1982 he received his priestly ordination. Three years later, he relocated to Peru, although he continued to visit the US on a regular basis to serve as a prior and a priest in his hometown. He has Peruvian nationality and is a well-known for working with underprivileged groups and assisting in building bridges among communities. His lengthy missionary effort in Peru and his later positions at the Vatican, where he oversaw the nomination of bishops worldwide, have been recognized as important contributions to the Church.
He spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and as a teacher at a seminary in Trujillo in north-western Peru. Following Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti’s announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after the Sistine Chapel gave the customary white smoke signal, signifying that the conclave had ended successfully, Pope Leo XIV said “Peace be with you,” as he greeted the faithful who had gathered and thanked his predecessor, the late Pope Francis, who entered eternal life on April 21, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV can read Latin and German and speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and Portuguese very ease. It is anticipated that his multilingual abilities and multicultural experience will support his attempts to lead and unite the Catholic community worldwide.
International leaders have congratulated him, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who noted the significance of an American pope and said he looks forward to meeting with the new pope soon. Pope Leo XIV has to deal with internal Church reforms, global conflicts and the need for renewed evangelization in a world growing more secular as he begins his pontificate.
What are Pope Leo’s views?
Early attention will focus on Leo XIV’s pronouncements to see whether he will continue his predecessor’s reforms in the Roman Catholic Church. Prevost is believed to have shared Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the environment.
In choosing the name Leo, Prevost has signified a commitment to dynamic social issues, according to experts. The first pontiff to use the name Leo, whose papacy ended in 461, met Attila the Hun and persuaded him not to attack Rome. The last Pope Leo led the Church from 1878 to 1903 and wrote an influential treatise on workers’ rights.
Although the incoming Pope’s stance on LGBT issues is unclear, some organisations, such as the conservative College of Cardinals, think he might not be as supportive as Francis.
Leo XIV has expressed support for Francis’s announcement that same-sex couples and those in “irregular situations” may receive blessings; nevertheless, he has stressed that bishops must interpret such directions in light of local settings and cultural norms.
Cardinal Prevost stated last year that it was time to go “from words to action” in response to climate change. Humanity should establish a “relationship of reciprocity” with the environment, he urged.
Additionally, he has discussed tangible actions at the Vatican, such as the adoption of electric vehicles and the construction of solar panels. Pope Francis’ decision to permit women to serve in the Dicastery for Bishops for the first time has received backing from Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV stands at the intersection of tradition and change as he begins his pontificate. In addition to being ceremonial landmarks, his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel and the upcoming Sunday benediction represent a Church ready for a new era. Pope Leo XIV is expected to handle the challenges of contemporary faith with humility and determination because of his pastoral heart, which was developed by decades of missionary work in Peru, and his administrative acumen, which was refined in the Vatican. A vision of a Church that listens, learns, and leads with compassion is reflected in his dedication to social justice, environmental stewardship, and synodal governance. The believers expect that under his guidance, the world would witness a period of harmony, inclusivity, and spiritual renewal for the global Catholic Church.
