HABEMUS PAPAM

Moments after stepping from behind the curtain, Robert Prevost—an Augustinian bishop and Cardinal, who once celebrated Mass for students at St. Augustine High School in San Diego—is introduced to the world as the 267th Pope, spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.

The conclave to choose a successor to Pope Francis began Wednesday May 7, 2025 and ended today. The 133 cardinal electors taking part in the process prayed together and took a vow of secrecy before the doors closed and the first round of votes were cast. 

As night fell yesterday, black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, indicating they had not yet agreed on a choice. 

 Thursday morning, the 133 cardinals resumed the process for Day 2 and, yet again, before lunch time in Rome, black smoke signaled no decisive outcome from the morning's round of two votes. 

At least 89 votes were needed to mark the successor to Pope Francis. 

Then things changed rapidly. At 6:07 pm Vatican time. White smoke rose.  Shortly there after:

Habemus Papam! 

His name: Robert Prevost (order of St. Augustine) is now Pope Leo XIV. 

He is the 267 Pope of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and the first from the United States. 

Viva il Papa! 

Like recent history, conclaves have tended to only last a couple of days. Today fell in line. Some past conclaves, however, dragged on much longer. The longest one ever, in the 13th century, took almost three years to choose Pope Gregory X. 

The shortest conclave on record, in 1503, took just 10 hours to choose Pope Pius III. The conclave that elected Pope Francis began on March 12, 2013, and he was announced as pope the next day, after five ballots. 

The conclave that elected his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, began on April 18, 2005. Benedict was announced as pope the next day after four ballots. 

LOCAL ANGLE IMAGE:

Saints Scene, the school monthly newsletter published the photo below in its December 2023 edition.  It reflects new Pope XIV, then Bishop Robert Prevost being tapped a Cardinal by the late Pope Francis.  As Bishop Prevost, he officiated Mass at St. Augustine High School on several occasions.  The headline captured the moment and a flash into the future.