Religion

The papal conclave has ended with white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope. Cardinal Robert Prevost has been named the bishop of Rome and will take the name Pope Leo the XIV. He was elected during the third round of voting among the College of Cardinals. Pope Leo greeted the crowd on Thursday afternoon, his face painted with obvious emotion as he spoke to millions of people across the world.

The College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Prevost to become the next leader of the worldwide Catholic Church. He'll take the name Pope Leo XIV. The news came just over an hour after white smoke finally billowed from the Sistine Chapel late Thursday afternoon, signaling to the world that the papal conclave had chosen a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month. The papal conclave began Wednesday afternoon and lasted 25 hours, 37 minutes and 58 seconds.

Habemus Papam: "We have a pope." White smoke finally billowed from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon, signaling to the world that the papal conclave has chosen a new pope to succeed Pope Francis, who died last month. The College of Cardinals is expected to shortly reveal the name of the person who will become the next leader of the worldwide Catholic Church and he'll make his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's. The election came one day after the papal conclave began on May 7.

The world is saying goodbye to Pope Francis, five days after the pontiff died at 88 years old following a stroke. The funeral for Francis took place Saturday morning, with many world leaders and some 200,000 people attending. Following the funeral service, Francis’ body will be entombed at the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. After a period of mourning, cardinals will gather to elect the next pope.

A funeral for Pope Francis was held Saturday morning in Vatican City. His final resting place was at Santa Maria Maggiore, also known as Saint Mary Major. The pope is breaking with tradition and is the first pope in more than a century to not be buried beneath St Peter’s Basilica. More than 250,000 people attended the hours-long ceremony. The pope died on Monday, April 21, 2025. The former leader of the Catholic Church died of a stroke and cardiac arrest, according to the Vatican. His final public appearance was on Easter Sunday, when he provided blessings to crowds of faithful.

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered Saturday for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square. World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell in a funeral Saturday reflecting Francis’ priorities as pope and wishes as pastor. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered the eulogy Saturday in St. Peter’s Square. Francis was remembered as a "pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone."