Cardinal Prevost Elected Pope as Leo XIV

At 6:08 p.m., white smoke rose above the roof of the Sistine Chapel, announcing to the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square that the Church had a new Pope. But it wasn't until 7:12 p.m. that Cardinal Dominique Mamberti appeared on the Loggia and proclaimed the expected formula: "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam" (I announce to you a great joy, we have a (new) pope), Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who took the name Leo XIV. The new Roman Pontiff then stepped forward to pronounce his first Urbi et Orbi blessing. He began with a short speech in which he expressed his desire to promote a synodal Church. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, he is 69 years old and an American citizen. He entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and made his perpetual profession in 1981. He was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982. He served as Prior General of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013. He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014, a position he would hold until 2023. Since January 30, 2023, he has been Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. On September 30, 2023, he was created Cardinal Deacon of Santa Monica, before being elevated to the title of Cardinal Bishop of Albano on February 6, 2025. The question that arises, for those who wish to move beyond the emotion of the moment, is, "What will be the future of the Church in the Pontificate that is just beginning?" In 2013, only a small number of clergymen and Vaticanists who knew Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina expressed any serious apprehension about his election. Thanks to the website "Cardinium Collegii recensio," it is possible to find out what each cardinal has said or written on sensitive issues such as the ordination of women to the diaconate, the blessing of same-sex couples, the option of priestly celibacy, the restriction of the traditional Mass, the agreement between China and the Vatican, and the promotion of a synodal Church. Regarding the new Pope, he declared that "the clericalization of women" would not solve the problems of the Catholic Church. He insisted, stating that "the apostolic tradition is something that has been very clearly stated, especially when we are talking about the issue of the ordination of women to the priesthood." However, he pointed out that Pope Francis recently appointed Sister Simona Brambilla Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He commented: "I think it will continue to be recognized that women can contribute a great deal to the life of the Church at various levels." Regarding the blessing of same-sex couples, he presented somewhat ambiguous formulations. However, he appears to be a fervent supporter of the synodal Church. As reported above, he expressed his support for this idea from the loggia. The speed of the election suggests that it was a compromise election. There were so many divisions among the cardinals who entered the conclave that it may have been necessary to consider promoting a compromise cardinal. On the other hand, the choice of Leo XIV as a name may reflect a desire to move beyond the period that began with John XXIII. But ultimately, more about this new Pope will be discovered when he is at work, beginning with the appointments to head the various Roman dicasteries. Let us pray for the new Sovereign Pontiff.