Pope Leo XIV

Pope Francis

When Pope Francis died at age 88 on April 21st, 2025, the Vatican entered a period of mourning, after traditions like public viewings of Francis’ coffin and the pope’s funeral. Instead of being buried at the usual St. Peter’s basilica in the Vatican, Francis chose to be buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore, another church in Rome. About two weeks later, on May 7th, all cardinals under the age of 80 gathered in Rome for a conclave, where they voted for the new pope in secret in the Sistine Chapel. After voting, the ballots are burned and the smoke goes up the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, where black smoke signals that a Pope hasn’t been chosen, and white smoke signals that one has been chosen.

Voting for and Becoming a Pope
To vote for the pope, or even to become a pope, requires becoming a cardinal in the Catholic Church. To become a cardinal, you start with becoming a priest, which requires years of study in religion. After becoming a priest, one may serve in different roles, like working in a parish or helping lead a diocese (A catholic district/region). If a priest is chosen to be a bishop, he oversees a group of churches in a diocese. Bishops who show strong leadership and devotion to the Church can be picked by the pope to become cardinals. Not all cardinals become pope, however, but they are usually the only candidates, as there have been no non-cardinal popes in 640 years.

A New Pope

Now, a new pope has been elected, after only 26 hours of voting went on in the Sistine chapel. The new pope, who was elected on May 8th, is Cardinal Robert Prevost from Chicago, who chose the name Pope Leo XIV. He is the first American and first Augustinian friar (someone who follows the rules of Saint Augustine) to become pope. Pope Leo is known for his years of service in Peru and his focus on unity and compassion. He denounced many human rights abuses during the Fujimori administration in Peru. He was educated at Villanova University, and grew up in the United States before he moved to Peru permanently in 2015. This move followed a mission he went on in Peru in 1985.

Sources: 

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-05/biography-of-robert-francis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv.html

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-dies-on-easter-monday-aged-88.html

https://www.usccb.org/offices/public-affairs/how-new-pope-chosen#:~:text=Four%20rounds%20of%20balloting%20are,in%20electing%20a%20new%20pope.