US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Martínez was elected Thursday as the new head of the Catholic Church to succeed the Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis). The new pontiff chose to be called Leo XIV. The first American pope, who belongs to the Order of St Augustine (OSA), also holds Peruvian citizenship after spending a large portion of his clergical life in the South American country.
The first vote of the 2025 conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor on Wednesday ended in black smoke at 9 pm local time. According to local media, a delay was caused by a 45-minute meditation by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa and the inexperience of many non-Italian-speaking cardinals. Over 45,000 faithful were waiting for it in St. Peter's Square.
The conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor began Wednesday with 133 cardinals locked in the Sistine Chapel, isolated from the outside world. The process started with the “extra omnes” prayer, signaling the closure of the chapel doors. The cardinals, sworn to secrecy, will vote until a new pope is chosen by a two-thirds majority (89 votes). The first vote would be voting in the afternoon, with smoke -black or white- expected any minute.
Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, convicted of embezzlement in a Vatican financial scandal involving a luxury London property, agreed Tuesday to Pope Francis' decision to exclude him from the upcoming conclave starting May 7, 2025, despite initially asserting his right to participate. Becciu, sentenced to five and a half years in prison for fraud and financial irregularities, retains his cardinal title and participates in pre-conclave meetings but will not vote in the election of the next pope.