The Smoke Has Cleared, and We Have a New Pope!
Anticipation builds as smoke turns white from the Sistine Chapel, hinting at the soon-to-be-unveiled new pope's identity.
Just yesterday, a cloud of smoke cascaded out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the election of a new religious leader. Soon, the world will learn the face concealed beneath the robes. Here's what you need to know:
Traditionally, after the pope's election, things move at a leisurely pace. It's likely to be an hour or more before the newly elected pope makes his first public appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. As history shows, this delay is common, with the election of Pope Francis in 2013 following a similar pattern.
When the time comes, the designated cardinal will ascend the balcony and announce the glad tidings in Latin, saying, "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam," which translates to "I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope" in English. This time, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France is the chosen one to reveal the identity of the new pontiff.
Once the pope's identity is unveiled, we'll learn his papal name, which is selected by the new leader himself. In 2013, Pope Francis made his introduction on the balcony mere ten minutes after his identity was disclosed.
In a surprising twist, recent reports indicate that this year's pope is none other than American Cardinal Robert Prevost, who has adopted the papal name Leo XIV. If true, he will be the first pope from the United States in history[1][3][4].
Stay tuned for more updates as we await the official announcement from the Vatican.
Politics, Europe, Religion, United States, Cardinal Robert Prevost
[1] "New pope elected in historic first for the United States," The Washington Post, May 8, 2025.[2] "Live updates: The election of Pope Leo XIV," Catholic News Agency, May 8, 2025.[3] "The America cardinal who could become the new pope," CNN, May 7, 2025.[4] "Meet Cardinal Robert Prevost, the US cardinal who could be next pope," National Catholic Reporter, May 5, 2025.
- Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American, is speculated to be the first pope from the United States in history, as reported by various news outlets.
- If Cardinal Prevost is confirmed as the new pope, his papal name will be revealed in the upcoming official announcement.
- Regardless of the politics involved, the election of the new pope is significant news for the religious world and beyond.
- Today's announcement signifies another intriguing chapter in the history of both European religion and general news, as the Vatican prepares to welcome its first American pope.
