21:59 – Leon XIII had a particularly long pontificate
Robert Francis Prevost therefore chose the name of Léon and becomes Léon XIV. It had been almost 150 years that it had not chosen this surname. His predecessor, Leon XIII therefore, was Italian. Cardinal Romain Vincenzo Giocchino Pecci had been elected Pope in 1878. Above all, his pontificate had lasted 25 years until his death in 1903. One of the longest pontiffs in history after Pius IX (31 years and Jean-Paul II (27 years old), recalls this Thursday the cross.
21:38 – The Italian President’s message to the new pope
The President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella also sent a message to the new Pope. “At this historic moment, where a large part of the world is devastated by inhuman conflicts where it is above all the innocent people who undergo the hardest consequences of such barbarism, I want to ensure you the commitment of the Italian Republic to maintain ever more solid relations with the Holy See in order to continue to promote a vision of the world and coexistence between peoples founded on peace, dignity and freedom of all, “he wrote in particular.
21:07 – A first mass given Friday at 11 a.m.
The new Pope Léon XIV will chair a mass with all the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel this Friday, May 9 at 11 a.m. The announcement was made to the press this Thursday evening by the representative of Vatican with the press, Matteo Bruni, learned the Italian daily La Repubblica this Thursday evening.
20:45 – Emmanuel Macron’s message to the new pope
“Historical moment for the Catholic Church and its millions of faithful. To Pope Leo XIV, to all Catholics in France and the world, I send a fraternal message. On May 8, that this new pontificate is carrying peace and hope,” wrote the President of the Republic in a message published on his account X (ex-Twitter).
20:43 – French origins for the new pope
It is a very open pope in the world that was elected this Thursday, May 8. It is therefore the first American pope in history. The sovereign pontiff was born in Chicago in 1955 of a mother of Italian origin and a father of French origin. Archbishop of Chicago, a city where he was born, he also studied in Rome before being a missionary in Peru.
20:27 – The first appearance of Pope Leo XIV and his speech to live on video
After the announcement “Habemus Papam”, Robert Francis Prevost, who became Léon XIV, appeared at the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre basilica in front of the stride gathered on the famous square. It was around 7:30 p.m. this Thursday, May 8 for a moment in history: the first speech of the new Pope.
20:24 – Relive the announcement of the new pope in video: “Habemus papam”
About an hour after the white smoke appeared from the chapel of the Sistine Chapel, the French Dominique Mamberti delivered around 7:10 pm the famous expected message “Habemus Papam”. Relive the moment on video:
20:20 – The biography of the new Pope Leo XIV
To know everything about the new pope, his career and the line he could give to his pontificate, the editorial staff returned to the life of Robert Francis Prevost, who became this Thursday, May 8, 2025 Léon XIV, 267th Pontiff of history.
20:13 – A “moderate” pope according to observers
By choosing Robert Francis Prevost, who became Léon XIV, the cardinals United in conclave have obviously made the choice of a man of synthesis, classified in a moderate current according to the latest projections and predictions of the last days. A fine connoisseur of the cogs of the Vatican, it is a relative of the Pope Francis. Italian media recall that it had been placed by Françoi at the head of the ministry responsible for the appointments of bishops, an extremely important position. It would therefore be a choice of continuity compared to the Pontificate of François. The American, who became a cardinal in only 2023, is however perceived as a more moderate man than Pope Francis.
20:09 – The 4th non -Italian Pope immediately
A sign of a certain opening, the new pope therefore does not come from Europe and succeeds a sovereign South American pontiff, François being from Argentina. This time, the Pope is American, coming from Chicago where he was born in 1955 before leaving in Peru in 2014 to take the head of the Diocese of Chiclayo. Léon XIV is above all the fourth sovereign pontiff non-Italian immediately after the Polish Jean-Paul II (1978-2005), the German Benoît XVI (2005-2013) and the Argentinian François (2013-2025).
19:49 – Donald Trump congratulates the new pope, the first American sovereign pontiff in history
A few minutes after the appearance of Robert Francis Prevost on the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica, he who became the new Pope under the name of Leon XIV, Donald Trump sent a message to the Sovereign Pontiff, born in Chicago in 1955. “What emotion and what great honor for our country! I can’t wait to meet Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very significant moment.”
19:32 – A word in Spanish for his diocese of Chiclayo in Peru
The new Pope Leo XIV has long been in Peru, where he was in charge of the Diocese of Chiclayo. He just wanted to deliver a “particular word” in Spanish to greet Peru.
19:30 – Léon XIV: “Thank you to Pope Francis”
The new pope, Leon XIV, continues his speech and slips some elements from his career. “I am a son of Saint-Augustin, an Augustinian. I send my greetings to the church of Rome, we must seek together to be a missionary church which baths bridges, who knows how to receive as in this place with so many people.”
19:28 – “We still have in the ears the weakened but courageous voice of Pope Francis”
The new Pope Léon XIV paid tribute to Pope Francis and delivered a message of peace and unity. “May peace be with you”, calling for “not being afraid”. “Evil will not prevail, let’s go ahead. The world needs the light of Christ”.
19:26 – The first words of Pope Leo XIV
Leon XIV addresses the crowd and gives his first words. Robert Francis Prevost had been appointed Cardinal-Diacre de Santa Monica by François in September 2023 then raised to the rank of Cardinal-Evêque in February 2025, assigned to the Suburbicaire diocese of Albano.
19:23 – The new pope appears on the balcony
Léon XIV, name chosen by Robert Francis Prevost, appears on the balcony and greets the crowd massaged place Saint-Pierre. It is therefore the first American pope in history, succeeding a South American pope since François was Argentinian.
19:20 – Who is the new Pope? Robert Francis Prevost now known as Léon XIV
It is therefore a Pope of American nationality, born in Chicago, who has just been elected. It is a first in the history of the church that a pope comes from the United States. Robert Francis Prevost is 69 years old and is a member of the Order of Saint-Augustin.
19:15 – The new pope is Robert Francis Prevost, he becomes Léon XIV
Le Français Mamberti s’est avancé au balcon de la Basilique Saint-Pierre. “I declare your great joy, we have a pope!” (“Je vous annonce une Grande Joie: nous avons a pope”), at-il lance a la foule. “Eminent and reverend, the Lord Robert Francis Prevost, St. Roman Cardinal, who had placed the lion, the name of the lion,” (“le très et très révérend seigneur Robert Francis Prevost, Cardinal de la Sainte église de Rome, who s’est imposed le nom de Leon 14”).
19:09 – Before appearing on the balcony, a whole protocol for the new pope
Before his first appearance at the Balcon Place Saint-Pierre, the Pope must be accompanied by Monsignor Diego Ravelli. It is he, who as master of liturgical ceremonies, is responsible for dressing the new pope. This ceremony takes place in the “Salle des tears”.
19:05 – The mayor of Rome arrived at Place Saint -Pierre
Roberto Gualtieri also arrived at Place Saint-Pierre where the crowd awaits the announcement of the new pope then the latter appear on the balcony.
19:01 – The patient crowd place Saint -Pierre, the looks all turned to the balcony
It is only a question of minutes before the cardinal Protodiacre Mamberti appeared at Place Saint-Pierre. The stride massaged on the iconic square of the Vatican shows a large fervor while having its eyes turned towards the balcony where the famous “Habemus papam” must be announced. For the time being, the window remains closed and the curtains are drawn.
18:55 – The 2nd day of conclave once again decisive
It will therefore have taken 4 rounds of election to elect the new pope. The 2nd day of conclave once again gave birth to a decision. It was rather expected since since 1900, four previous popes had been elected on the second day of the conclave: Pius XII, Jean-Paul Ier, Benoît XVI and François. Pius XII had even only needed three ballot rounds in 1939, Jean-Paul 1er and Benoît XVI had been chosen by the cardinals after four towers. Finally, François was chosen in the evening, after a 5th round on March 13, 2013.
18:42 – A ceremony of the Swiss guards place Saint -Pierre
In front of an important crowd of Saint-Pierre where the fervor is heard, a ceremony led by the Swiss guards of the Vatican continues. Italian anthem also resonates.
18:39 – The name of the 267th pope soon announced, when will the “Habemus papam” fall?
The crowd shouts Place Saint-Pierre where she is waiting to know the name of the 267th sovereign pontiff of the history of the church. The traditional announcement “Habemus Papam” which must be made by the French protodiacre Dominique Mamberti must intervene in the hour following the appearance of white smoke. This intervened at 6:10 p.m. We are therefore waiting for the announcement around 7 p.m.
18:32 – “Habemus Papam!” : what the cardinal will say to the balcony
When the new pope has paid all the stages of the protocol behind the scenes, his election is formalized with a precise Latin sentence pronounced by the cardinal-protodiacre on the balcony of the Saint-Pierre basilica: “Annintio vobis Gaudium Magnum: Habemus Papam!”, Which means “I announce a great joy: we have a pope!”
This declaration is accompanied by luxury qualifier which precedes the name of the Sovereign Pontiff Freshly named and of the papal name he chose. In 2013, here is how the cardinal-protein of the time had presented Pope Francis: “Eminentissimum AC Reverendissum Dominum, Dominum Georgium Marium, Sanctae Romanae Ecclessiae Cardinalem Bergoglio, which Sibi Nomen imposed Franciscum”, which can be translated by “the very eminent and very reverend Lord Jorge Mario Bergoglio, cardinal of the Holy Church of Rome, which
imposed the name of François “.
