The Catholic church has a new leader.
Shortly after midnight on Friday, May 9 (Manila time), the much-anticipated white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
This event marks the end of the conclave, with the new leader of the Catholic church chosen by the 133 cardinal-electors.
The election ended after five ballots and just a day after the start of the conclave.
After the Cardinals have elected the new Pope, according to the Vatican News, the most junior of the Cardinal Deacons has to call the Secretary of the College of Cardinals and the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations into the Sistine Chapel.
The most senior Cardinal, speaking on behalf of all the electors, will then ask for the elected candidate’s consent with the following words: “Do you accept your canonical election as Supreme Pontiff?”
The name that the Pope wishes to use is then asked, with the notary, witnessed by two Masters of Ceremonies, carried out by the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, who drafts the document of acceptance and records the chosen name.
The Cardinals then pay homage and pledge obedience to the new Pope, and thank God.
The Cardinal Proto-Deacon announces to the faithful the election and the name of the new Pontiff with the famous line: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; Habemus Papam.”
POPE LEO XIV
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was proclaimed Pope Leo XIV, becoming the 267th pontiff of the Catholic church.
At 69 years old, the new Pope was the perfecr of the Dicastery for Bishopd and the leader of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Born as a North American, he was naturalized as a Peruvian in 2015, and served as the Bishop of Chicaylo.
He succeeds the late Pope Francis, who then made history as the first Latin American to hold the position upon his election in 2013.