Pope Leo XIV calls for end to wars in Ukraine, Gaza

Pope Leo XIV was elected as the Catholic Church's 267th leader on Thursday.

ByDavid Brennan, Jon Haworth, Julia Jacobo, Megan Forrester, and Kevin Shalvey
Last Updated: May 11, 2025, 7:55 AM EDT

The temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday evening local time, signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.

American Cardinal Robert Prevost was shortly thereafter announced as the 267th pontiff. He chose the name Leo XIV, a senior cardinal deacon announced.

The 69-year-old Chicago native is the first American pope and is seen as a diplomat in the church.

"This is the first greeting of the risen Christ. May the peace be with you," Leo said in Italian in his first remarks as pope. "This is the peace of the risen Christ."

Tune in to "The American Pope: Leo XIV," a special edition of "20/20," streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
May 07, 2025, 12:29 PM EDT

American pope would be 'unlikely'

The prospect of an American becoming pope is "very unlikely," according to Dr. Miles Pattenden, a historian of the Catholic Church and a lecturer of history at Oxford University in England.

"There has traditionally been a lot of wariness about a pope from the Anglosphere," Pattenden said. "I shouldn't think that the current circumstances change that, especially now with the tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration."

An American cardinal, Robert Prevost, has nevertheless started to emerge as a front-runner for the papacy, according to Father James Martin, a papal contributor for ABC.

-ABC News' Bill Hutchinson and Megan Forrester

May 07, 2025, 11:52 AM EDT

Sistine Chapel doors close as conclave begins

The master of ceremonies has called "extra omnes" -- ordering all those who are not cardinal electors to exit the Sistine Chapel prior to the start of the conclave.

The door to the Sistine Chapel closed as the cardinals begin the process of choosing the new pope.

The master of ceremonies has called "extra omnes" -- ordering all those who are not cardinal electors to exit the Sistine Chapel prior to the start of the conclave.
4:10
Sistine Chapel doors close as conclave beginsThe master of ceremonies has called "extra omnes" -- ordering all those who are not cardinal electors to exit the Sistine Chapel prior to the start of the conclave.
ABCNews.com

May 07, 2025, 11:28 AM EDT

This week's conclave is the most diverse in history

The conclave starting Wednesday is the most diverse in history, with cardinals coming from all over the world to elect the next pope.

Cardinal electors pray in the Sistine Chapel as the conclave to elect a new Pope starts in The Vatican, May 7, 2025.
Vatican Media/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The majority of the cardinals are coming from Europe, including 17 electors from Italy, five from Spain and five from France.

There are 16 cardinal electors from North America, including 10 from the United States. Additionally, there are four from Central America, 17 from South America, 18 from Africa, 23 from Asia and four from Oceania.

Argentina, the home country of Pope Francis, has four cardinal electors.

May 07, 2025, 11:17 AM EDT

Cardinals will be without cellphones for duration of conclave

The 133 voting cardinals have taken the oath of secrecy prior to the official start of the papal conclave, meaning they will be without modern technology for the days-long voting process to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church.

Since recording technology of any kind is forbidden during the conclave, the cardinals' cellphones have been taken away.

Faithful watch giant screen displaying images of the procession of cardinals to the Sistine chapel as the conclave to elect a new Pope starts, at St Peter's Square in The Vatican, May 7, 2025.
Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images

The phones will not be returned until the new pope is elected.

Technicians also ensured that there are no secretly installed bugs or similar devices inside the Sistine Chapel or adjacent areas.

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