Here Comes the New Pope: US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Crowned Leo XIV
U.S.-based prelate Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost chosen as new Pope by Leo XIV.
Breaking news! After 24 steaming hours in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, the world's Catholic cardinals have elected a new pope. The man for the job? None other than Robert Francis Prevost, an American cardinal who'll now go by the name Pope Leo XIV. That's right - the first North American to hold the office of Holy Father. And let me tell you, the excitement in St. Peter's Square? Off the charts!
As the white smoke curled up from the Sistine Chapel chimney, spirits soared, and the bells of St. Peter's Basilica pealed out in joyous celebration. 15,000 folks had been waiting, and well, they weren't disappointed.
The news agency Ansa reports that the election went down in the fourth round of voting Wednesday evening. The first round on Wednesday had been a flop, followed by two unsuccessful rounds on Thursday morning. But all that changed in the afternoon - they finally landed on a successor for the late Pope Francis.
Once elected, Pope Leo XIV was decked out in white, while all the cardinals swore fealty to him. After a prayer, they made their way to St. Peter's Basilica's central balcony for the papal introduction. And that's where he made his first public appearance as Pope Leo XIV, admiring the adoring crowd below.
Now, this new pope is bound to make waves, given he's the first American at the helm. Will he continue the careful reform course of Francis or will he usher in a more traditional approach, as some conservative cardinals had been urging? Only time will tell. While Europe has seen Catholic Church membership dwindle due to scandals, numbers are growing on other continents. Stay tuned to see if the new pope will mark a new chapter for the Catholic Church.
From Rome, the buzz is palpable. Thousands are heading to St. Peter's Square to catch a glimpse of their new spiritual leader. It's an exciting time - stay tuned for more updates!
- Fascinating Facts: This election featured the largest conclave ever, with 135 cardinals taking part. Pope Leo XIV's predecessor, the late Pope Francis, had been cooped up in the Vatican for over three weeks as he battled a life-threatening lung infection.
- Did You Know? The Catholic Church views the Pope as the successor of the Apostle Peter and the representative of Jesus Christ on Earth. He's also the Primate of Italy and the head of state of the Vatican, even though he doesn't hold significant secular power.
Source: ntv.de, mli/dpa
- Vatican
- Pope Francis
- The European Parliament expressed their congratulations to Pope Leo XIV, the new Holy Father who hails from the United States.
- On social media, posts about Pope Leo XIV's coronation trended worldwide, with people sharing their thoughts on the first North American pope.
- In contrast to old movies and TV shows set in the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV brings a fresh perspective to the worldwide entertainment scene.
- As he was inaugurated, the sound of bells echoed across continents, signifying the global impact of The European Parliament's Pope.
