In a historic milestone for the Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new pope, becoming the first American to ever assume the role in the Church’s two-thousand-year history.
The announcement came Thursday evening when white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, signalling that the College of Cardinals had successfully reached a decision during the second day of the conclave.
Crowds in St. Peter’s Square burst into celebration at the sight of the traditional smoke signal, which confirmed the election of a new spiritual leader for Catholics around the world.
Cardinal Prevost, who was born in Chicago, has spent much of his life in service abroad, particularly in Peru, where he worked as a missionary and bishop.
He currently leads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, a powerful office responsible for overseeing the appointment of church leaders worldwide.
His broad experience across Latin America and the United States was reportedly a decisive factor in his selection by fellow cardinals.
The Vatican has yet to reveal the papal name he has chosen, though an official announcement is expected soon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
This swift election process, completed within two days like the previous selections of Popes Francis and Benedict XVI, reflects a strong and early consensus among the cardinals.
Prevost’s appointment marks a significant departure from centuries of European papal leadership and opens a new chapter for the Church with a North American pope at the helm.