HONG KONG (SE): Dominique Cardinal Mamberti, former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, announced “Habemus Papam!” from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica at 7:13 pm Rome time [1:13 am Hong Kong time], proclaiming the election of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV. He is the second Pope from the Americas, following Pope Francis..
On May 8, at approximately 6:10 pm Rome time [12:10 am, May 9, Hong Kong time], white smoke began billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, confirming the election of the 267th pope by the papal conclave. The selection occurred on the fourth ballot.
Taking the name Leo XIV, the first Augustinian pope, who until his election served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America from 2023, imparted his first Urbi et Orbi [to the city and to the world] blessing upon the crowd of thousands in St. Peter’s Square and viewers online and on broadcast media, saying, “Peace be with you,” offering blessings of peace to all.
Easily switching between Italian and Spanish he continued: “Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.””
“God loves everyone, evil will not prevail” he declared, “we are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us! We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward.”
Pope Leo said, “Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges,” and acknowledged his predecessor saying, “thank you Pope Francis for all you have done!”
The pope thanked the cardinals who chose him to be the Successor to Peter and to walk “together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear.”
He acknowledged his Augustinian roots and said, “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop. We can all walk together towards that homeland God has prepared for us.”
The the Church in Rome Pope Leo said, “We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.”
Switching to Spanish, he briefly addressed the Diocese of Chiclayo where he had once been the bishop, “Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop.”
The pope concluded, exhorting: “To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.”
Finally, noting it was the day of Supplicatio [Plea] to Our Lady of Pompei, he said, “Our blessed mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. So let us pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church, and for peace in the world.”
We ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother. He then led the crowd in a recititaion of the Hail Mary.
Born Robert Francis Prevost on 14 September 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Pope Leo XIV carries within him a rich heritage of French and Italian ancestry. His spiritual journey led him to embrace the Augustinian order in September 1977, and he was ordained a priest in 1982, marking the beginning of a life dedicated to service.
For many years, he served as a missionary in Peru, immersing himself in the local culture and dedicating himself to its people. This experience profoundly shaped his understanding of the Church’s role in the world. Before his election as pope, he served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, at which time he was called to serve at the Vatican by Pope Francis.
He has Peruvian nationality and is warmly remembered as someone who tirelessly served marginalised communities and skillfully built bridges of understanding within the local Church.
