Karol. At the end of a new vote on this second day of conclave, the 133 cardinals voters agreed to elect the next pope, Thursday, May 8, around 6:10 p.m.. The appearance of white smoke caused jubilation scenes on Saint-Pierre square. Just over an hour after white smoke, the identity of the new pope was revealed at the Balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica. It was the American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69 years old, who was appointed 267th Sovereign Pontiff. He will reign under the name of Léon XIV. Discreet and reserved, this close collaborator of the former Pope Francis has a reputation within the Curia, the Vatican government, to be a moderate capable of reconciling divergent points of view. Follow our direct.
first American pope in history. Robert Francis Prevost Since 2023 was the prefect of the powerful dicastery of the bishops, responsible for appointing bishops around the world. He spent years as a missionary in Peru and is the Archbishop-Bishop Emeritus of Chiclayo in this country in South America. He is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Just over 24 hours after the conclave start. The cardinals had not managed to agree on a name on Wednesday evening, arousing the disappointment of the thousands of faithful massaged on Place Saint-Pierre. This first round generally made it possible to gauge the forces involved. A second black smoke had risen from the Sistine Chapel Thursday morning after two new elections.
Majority of two thirds. A pope is elected when his name collects a majority of two thirds of cardinals voters, or 89 votes. White smoke then appeared at the end of the vote. To avoid any misunderstanding when the smoke is sometimes greyish, the bells now accompany the white smoke to confirm that the identity of the new Pope is known.
