Who was elected pope in 2025, and how did the conclave work?

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on 8 May 2025, on the fourth ballot of a conclave held on 7 and 8 May to succeed Francis, who had died on 21 April 2025. He took the name Leo XIV. Before his election he was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Of the 135 eligible cardinal electors, all but two attended: health problems kept two away, leaving 133, so the two-thirds majority needed was 89 votes. It was the largest number of electors ever to vote in a conclave.

Here is how the two days went. On 7 May, only a single ballot was held, because the conclave began in the afternoon. The day ended at 9:00 p.m. with black smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signifying that no one had been elected, and up to 45,000 people had gathered in St. Peter's Square to wait for it. Reports differed on who led that first ballot: some said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the frontrunner, others said Prevost slightly ahead of him.

The second day began with two ballots, ending around 10:30 and 11:45 a.m., and black smoke appeared at 11:51. After lunch came the fourth ballot, on which the cardinals' support coalesced around Prevost, who reportedly received more than 100 votes. White smoke appeared at 6:07 p.m., followed by the bells of St. Peter's Basilica.

Prevost, born in Chicago, became a friar of the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977 and was ordained in 1982. Observers had considered him a dark horse, so his election was unexpected. He is the first pope from the United States or North America, the first to be a citizen of Peru, and the first from the Order of Saint Augustine. He chose the name Leo at least in part to honor Pope Leo XIII.