Trump, Others React As Prevost Turns into Pope Leo XIV (Dwell Updates)

[ad_1] Topline Robert Francis Prevost will lead the Catholic Church as Pope Leo XIV, turning into the primary pope to hail from america—and American leaders have begun sending their congratulations.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was elected to be the brand new pope, poses for a photograph on the finish of ... Extra the consistory the place Pope Francis elevated 21 new cardinals in St. Peter's Sq. at The Vatican, Sept. 30, 2023.

Key Info Prevost acquired the mandatory two-thirds majority vote to be elected pope, which doubtless occurred on the fourth poll, following two failed ballets Thursday morning and one failed poll Wednesday.

Bells tolled because the white smoke poured out from the Sistine Chapel, the place 1000's gathered in St. Peter’s Sq. and chanted , “Lengthy dwell the pope!”

Cardinal Dominique Mamberti introduced Prevost—who took the papal identify Leo XIV—as pope on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday night, about an hour after white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel.

When Leo XIV got here out on the balcony to deal with the world for the primary time as pope, he mentioned, “peace be with you all,” and referred to as for folks to go ahead “with out worry,” saying: “God loves us, all of us, evil is not going to prevail,” in line with a <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html" aria-label="translation">translation from the Vatican.

Cardinal <a href="https://apnews.com/live/conclave-pope-catholic-church-updates-5-8-2025#00000196-af5d-dcf7-a7fe-bffdad4b0000" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://apnews.com/live/conclave-pope-catholic-church-updates-5-8-2025#00000196-af5d-dcf7-a7fe-bffdad4b0000" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/live/conclave-pope-catholic-church-updates-5-8-2025#00000196-af5d-dcf7-a7fe-bffdad4b0000" aria-label="Giovanni Battista Re">Giovanni Battista Re , dean of the Faculty of Cardinals, who's 91 and above the age cutoff of 80 to take part within the conclave, beforehand informed Italian information shops he had hoped to see white smoke by Thursday night.

What Had been Leo Xiv’s First Phrases As Pope? “Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the primary greeting of the risen Christ, the nice shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would really like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to achieve your households and all folks, wherever they're; and all of the peoples, and all of the earth: Peace be with you,” in line with a <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/pope-leo-xvi-peace-be-with-you-first-words.html" aria-label="translation">translation of Leo XIV’s speech from the Vatican.

What We Know About Pope Leo Xiv Leo XIV, 69, was born in Chicago and most not too long ago served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Fee for Latin America underneath his predecessor, Pope Francis. He was made a cardinal by Francis, and Vatican specialists have mentioned he equally values Francis’ championing of the poor. He has, nevertheless, drawn criticism for his dealing with of clergymen accused of sexual abuse. (<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/05/08/who-is-robert-francis-prevost-what-we-know-about-pope-leo-xiv-the-first-american-pope/" target="_self" class="color-link" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/05/08/who-is-robert-francis-prevost-what-we-know-about-pope-leo-xiv-the-first-american-pope/" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/05/08/who-is-robert-francis-prevost-what-we-know-about-pope-leo-xiv-the-first-american-pope/" aria-label="Read more about Leo XIV here">Read more about Leo XIV here .)

What Has Trump Mentioned About Pope Leo Xiv? President Donald Trump weighed in on the choice, posting his congratulations to Leo XIV on Fact Social, including: “It's such an honor to appreciate that he's the primary American Pope. What pleasure, and what a Nice Honor for our Nation. I look ahead to assembly Pope Leo XIV. It is going to be a really significant second!”

How Have Different American Leaders Reacted? Vice President JD Vance congratulated Leo XIV in a post on X , saying: “I’m positive tens of millions of American Catholics and different Christians will pray for his profitable work main the Church. Could God bless him!”

Former President Joe Biden additionally despatched nicely needs, saying on X : “Could God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois. Jill and I congratulate him and want him success.”

Former President Barack Obama and former first girl Michelle Obama <a href="https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1920551037632397447?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1920551037632397447?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://x.com/BarackObama/status/1920551037632397447?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" aria-label="said on X">said on X they had been sending “congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan,” and added: “This can be a historic day for america, and we'll pray for him as he begins the sacred work of main the Catholic Church and setting an instance for therefore many, no matter religion.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned in a <a href="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/on-the-election-of-his-holiness-pope-leo-xiv/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/on-the-election-of-his-holiness-pope-leo-xiv/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/05/on-the-election-of-his-holiness-pope-leo-xiv/" aria-label="statement">statement on Leo XIV being named pope: “this can be a second of profound significance for the Catholic Church, providing renewed hope and continuity amid the 2025 Jubilee Yr to over a billion trustworthy worldwide ... The USA appears to be like ahead to deepening our enduring relationship with the Holy See with the primary American pontiff.”

How Did They Announce When A Pope Was Been Chosen? After voting, the ballots had been burned, and chemical compounds had been added to provide both black smoke—indicating no pope has been elected—or white smoke—that means a pope was been chosen—from the Sistine Chapel. Vatican watchers gathered to observe what coloration the smoke was after each vote.

Who Had been The Main Contenders To Be Elected Pope? There was no clear frontrunner to win the papacy, Vatican experts said , although a number of the cardinals who had been thought-about to be prime candidates included Italy’s Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state who is taken into account extra reasonable than Francis, and the Philippines’ Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, who attracts comparisons to Francis for his liberal-leaning stances and his championing of the poor. Parolin and Tagle had been the 2 main contenders on numerous betting websites, together with Polymarket and Kalshi , as bettors waged tens of millions on the papal election. Different cardinals who had been thought-about <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/04/21/these-cardinals-are-the-top-candidates-to-succeed-pope-francis/" target="_self" class="color-link" title="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/04/21/these-cardinals-are-the-top-candidates-to-succeed-pope-francis/" data-ga-track="InternalLink:https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/04/21/these-cardinals-are-the-top-candidates-to-succeed-pope-francis/" aria-label="possible candidates">possible candidates included a number of from Italy— Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Matteo Zuppi—in addition to Congo’s Fridolin Ambongo, Hungary’s Peter Erdo, Ghana’s Peter Turkson and France’s Jean-Marc Aveline.

Why Was This Conclave Essential? Papal specialists mentioned the conclave may decide whether or not the Catholic Church continues down the trail laid by Francis to grow to be extra progressive , or whether or not a extra conservative successor might be chosen and probably roll again a few of Francis’ reforms. Francis was notable, and divisive, for his stances hanging a extra welcoming tone towards LGBTQ+ Catholics and girls in church management roles, which received some world reward however angered conservative critics. Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Sweden mentioned some cardinals wished to elect a successor “who can observe within the footsteps of Francis. Some others mentioned, ‘No, no. By no means,’” The New York Times reported, whereas Italian conservative Cardinal Camillo Ruini mentioned there was a “must return the church to Catholics.” Dean of the Faculty of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, mentioned in a homily Wednesday the brand new pope would face a “tough and sophisticated turning level in historical past,” stating he prayed for a pope who leads “for the nice of the church and of humanity.”

How Did The Conclave Work? Whereas secluded from the skin world, cardinals underneath the age of 80 forged 4 votes every day till a candidate receives a two-thirds majority. The method started Wednesday afternoon with mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, after which cardinals proceeded to the Sistine Chapel to start the conclave. On days no successor was chosen, cardinals spent the night time in Vatican guesthouses to renew voting the following day. Every <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/conclave-live-updates-cardinals-meet-elect-successor-pope-francis-2025-05-07/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.reuters.com/world/conclave-live-updates-cardinals-meet-elect-successor-pope-francis-2025-05-07/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.reuters.com/world/conclave-live-updates-cardinals-meet-elect-successor-pope-francis-2025-05-07/" aria-label="cardinal">cardinal was assigned a desk affixed with papers that say, “Eligo in summum pontificem,” or, “I select as supreme pontiff.”

Stunning Reality Some cardinals watched the film “Conclave,” the papal drama that received an Oscar simply two months in the past, whereas prepping for the true factor, <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/cardinals-watch-conclave-movie-for-real-life-guidance/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.politico.eu/article/cardinals-watch-conclave-movie-for-real-life-guidance/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.politico.eu/article/cardinals-watch-conclave-movie-for-real-life-guidance/" aria-label="Politico reported">Politico reported , citing a cleric concerned within the conclave who mentioned some cardinals discovered the movie “remarkably correct.” Viewership of “Conclave” spiked 283% inside a day of Francis’s dying, in line with <a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/conclave-streaming-views-pope-francis-death-1236375240/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/conclave-streaming-views-pope-francis-death-1236375240/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://variety.com/2025/film/news/conclave-streaming-views-pope-francis-death-1236375240/" aria-label="Luminate">Luminate .

Why Did Day One Of The Conclave Take So Lengthy? Wednesday’s vote took longer than most specialists had predicted, as the primary launch of smoke took an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vatican-conclave-pick-new-pope-world-waits-white-smoke-2025-05-07/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vatican-conclave-pick-new-pope-world-waits-white-smoke-2025-05-07/" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/vatican-conclave-pick-new-pope-world-waits-white-smoke-2025-05-07/" aria-label="hour longer">hour longer than the primary black smoke in 2013 throughout the conclave that elected Pope Francis. Mathew Schmalz, editor of the Journal of World Catholicism and Faculty of the Holy Cross non secular research professor, informed BBC News the prolonged anticipate the primary launch of smoke could have been due to the big variety of cardinals from world wide assembly each other for the primary time, speculating the conclave may take someday longer than typical. Although it’s unclear why Wednesday’s vote took so lengthy, Schmalz informed the BBC he's “getting sort of nervous” about whether or not the conclave could have run into points that may must be smoothed out within the coming days. The conclave of 133 electors is the largest and most <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/06/world/europe/cardinals-conclave-2025.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="color-link" title="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/06/world/europe/cardinals-conclave-2025.html" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/06/world/europe/cardinals-conclave-2025.html" aria-label="globally diverse">globally diverse in historical past, higher than the 115 electors that participated within the 2005 and 2013 conclaves, which can additionally trigger an extended time for the vote.

Key Background Francis died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, following a bout of well being points, which led to his longest hospital keep whereas pope. Francis was hospitalized earlier this yr for bilateral pneumonia and bronchitis, and Vatican medical doctors mentioned he died of cerebral stroke and irreversible coronary heart failure.

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