Pope Leo

 

Pope Leo XIV

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Conclave of 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals elected a new Pope for 1.4 billion faithful, the 267th in the line of Pontiffs that dates back to St Peter, who was handpicked by Jesus Christ himself. [Matthew 16:18]

Before he was elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Frost Prevost spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome. 

For the past two decades he was a missionary in Chilayco, Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official. Here he also became a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious community, the Order of St. Augustine. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally.

His deep connection to Latin America helped him gain a unique understanding of the challenges faced by marginalised communities.

His dedication to social justice, coupled with his multilingual abilities— speaking Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese— makes him a well-rounded leader in the global Church.

White smoke, peeling Bells peeling and a joyous Announcement signal a New Pope

When a new Pope is elected, three signs mark that historic moment: the white smoke (“fumata bianca” in Italian) erupting from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the announcement “Habemus papam” or ‘We have a Pope’ pronounced by the cardinal protodeacon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the joyous peeling of bells.

White smoke

In 1274, at the Second Council of Lyons, Pope Gregory X, in a document titled Ubi Periculum, outlawed the procedure for holding a conclave, where he specified that the election would be done in isolation in the Sistine Chapel  and with strict secrecy. For this reason, and to avoid any communication with the outside, the smoke signal was eventually adopted as part of the ritual.

If the smoke coming out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel is black, it means that no candidates reached the two-thirds majority needed to be elected.

If, however, the smoke is white, the Catholic Church has elected a new Pope. 

In earlier times, the method to create the smoke in these colours involved burning the ballots used in the voting with a bit of wet straw to produce black smoke or dry straw for white smoke. Nowadays, special chemical compounds in two different tubes, one for each colour of smoke, are used.

Habemus papam

The expression Habemus papam is officially a bit longer: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam; Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum [prænomen] Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem [nomen], qui sibi nomen imposuit [nomen pontificale].” Translated, it reads: “I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope! The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord, Don [given name], cardinal of the Holy Roman Church [surname], who has imposed on himself the name of [papal name].”

This announcement is partially inspired by a passage from the Gospel of St. Luke, which reproduces the words of the angel when he announces the birth of Jesus to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, who is the Messiah, the Lord” [Luke 2:10-12].

Peeling bells

In addition to the announcement Habemus papam, a bell is rung, part of the ritual introduced when Pope Benedict XVI was elected, confirming that the smoke is white and a new pope has been elected.

Sources:

• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/08/world/europe/pope-leo-xiv-robert-francis-prevost.html
• https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/263867/the-story-behind-habemus-papam-and-the-white-smoke-annoucing-a-new-pope