Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, prompting a conclave that elected a new pope shortly after.

The current pope is Leo XIV , born Robert Francis Prevost, the first American to hold the office.

Election Details

A conclave of 135 cardinal electors convened on May 7-8, 2025, in the Sistine Chapel.

Prevost, aged 69 and formerly a missionary in Peru, secured the required two- thirds majority (over 100 votes) on the fourth ballot.

White smoke signaled his election at 6:07 p.m., followed by bells and his appearance on St. Peter's balcony, where he greeted crowds with "Peace be with all of you!" in Italian, Spanish, and Latin.

Background and Significance

Born in Chicago to French, Italian, and Spanish roots, Prevost belongs to the Augustinian order—another historic first for a pope.

His roles included prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, blending U.S. origins with deep Latin American ties.

He chose "Leo XIV" to honor Pope Leo XIII, reflecting continuity in social teaching amid speculation of reform or correction post-Francis.

Pre-Conclave Speculation

Betting markets like Polymarket favored Pietro Parolin (37-70% odds) and Luis Tagle (26%), with others like Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Péter Erdő trailing.

Media highlighted "papabile" candidates appointed mostly by Francis (8/10 cardinals), debating continuity versus shift.

Forums buzzed with views: some eyed conservatives like Robert Sarah, others progressives like Matteo Zuppi as a "mini-Francis."

Candidate| Pre-Conclave Odds| Key Traits Discussed 16
---|---|---
Pietro Parolin| 37-70%| Vatican Secretary of State; diplomatic consensus pick
Luis Tagle| 26%| Filipino; progressive, youth-focused
Pierbattista Pizzaballa| 10%| Jerusalem patriarch; Middle East expertise
Péter Erdő| 8%| Hungarian; theological conservative
Peter Turkson| 7%| Ghanaian; development advocate
Robert Sarah| 4%| African traditionalist
Matteo Zuppi| 3%| Italian progressive like Francis

Trending Forum Takes

"Zuppi a mini Francis have the vote NOW... quiet, that make him worst." – Reddit user on r/Catholicism

Pre-election chatter mixed hope for reform with loyalty concerns, but Prevost emerged as a surprise unifier.

As of February 2026, Leo XIV leads 1.4 billion Catholics, with early focus on peace and family outreach.

TL;DR: No new pope needed—Leo XIV (Robert Prevost) was elected May 2025, first U.S.-born pontiff.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.