On May 8, 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Leo XIV, the first North American Pope, after 132 Cardinals took oaths and white smoke rose from St. Peter’s Basilica at 6:08 p.m. Rome. His past roles—Bishop of Peru’s Chiclayo, Augustinian Superior General, and Dicastery Prefect—highlighted his global experience before delivering the "Urbi et Orbi" blessing, blending Spanish greetings with calls for dialogue and unity. The historic election, witnessed by 100,000 in St. Peter’s Square, underscores shifting Vatican influence while unrelated C-SPAN events—Trump’s citizenship case, King Charles III’s address, and Gibson’s book discussion—reveal America’s ongoing political and cultural tensions. [Automatically generated summary]
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Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was chosen the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church on May 8th, 2025.
Taking the name Leo XIV, he was elected on the second day of the conclave and was the first ever Pope from North America.
He delivered remarks from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, calling for peace and paying tribute to his predecessor, the late Pope Francis.
We have smoke in St. Peter's Square now.
So we will come back and it looks to be white.
We have look at that smoke streaming out.
This is good.
This is incredible news here coming up here on 6.08 p.m. here in Rome at the Vatican, and we have white smoke streaming out.
And you can see the crowds.
And we hear the crowds applauding there.
As you can see, now we've got the camera work on there.
Wow.
Just crowds of people crying.
This is amazing.
Here we are.
And celebrating this special moment.
It's so white.
There was a brief moment where we were a little unsure, but it is confirmed in this white smoke.
We have white smoke here.
A smoke warning.
A smoke warning.
We're no longer watching.
Oh, my goodness.
I was walking out the door.
We're back with Dr. Louis.
I'm still out of breath from racing up here.
I can't believe it.
I'm actually flabbergasted.
Surprise as well, because given the complexity of the reality we were talking about, and the many issues and the diversity.
But here we are, and look at our drone footage there.
We're just cruising over the roof of the Sistine Chapel.
We see the crowds.
The bells are ringing.
The bells are ringing.
It is 100% white smile.
That's the white smoke.
And I mean, as we were talking about before, the crowds are mass.
It's incredible.
And that's probably small compared to what's coming in now.
And that smoke just scared away our seagulls there, the little family there that was just relaxing on Sistine Chapel roof there.
But actually, as you mentioned at the beginning, TJ, it seemed like they did, though.
They came back just for the white smoke.
Indeed, indeed.
In fact, maybe they were giving us a kind of a secret bit of information that they knew that we didn't know.
But here we are.
And then a spectacular, sunny, brilliant evening here.
And you can even see from the perspective of the crowds there in St. Peter's Square, the white smoke billowing from the chimney, even as the sun starts going down behind the dome of St. Peter's there.
Well, thanks be to God.
Honestly.
And this smoke will last at least about six minutes, six and a half minutes.
And with a light breeze there in the square, we can see it billowing down towards the square.
And we've got now basically about 45 minutes to at least an hour before the new pope just elected to greet everyone.
And so there's huge anticipation, naturally, of who will the new successor of St. Peter be.
Well, and I mean, as we were talking about before, you see the crowds filling the squares, but also the different people will have come.
I mean, you can see the flags waving, people smiling.
It's a big sign of the universality of the church, but then also just how supportive people are in the sense of being here for this moment.
And now we're going to have an invasion of Romans.
They're going to be coming in.
No, it's only natural and normal.
I mean, you live here.
So those who can be bishop, too.
What's that?
He's their bishop, too.
Of course, he's their bishop.
And so they're going to be streaming into the square now.
It's going to be filling up.
It will make for some interesting traffic around my house because if my recollection is correct, when they couldn't get any further, they just left their cars in the road.
There you go.
So there you are.
They were just stopping in the road.
But there's nowhere else to go.
That's true.
That's true.
Look at that billowing, thick white smoke there.
All the different flags.
I love the people ready with their flags just in case.
My daughter said that the election of Pope Benedict XVI, her closest friend, they went to school right around the corner here, and her closest friend was German.
And they went running out into the square and out comes Joseph Rapsinger.
She said her friend had this teeny tiny little teenage girl purse.
She pulled out of this purse this flag, this enormous flag.
It was suddenly raised.
Oh my goodness.
A lot of people come prepared.
Yeah, that's the thing because you just never know.
I mean, when I was in the square earlier, people thought, oh, no, it might be a longer time.
It could take days.
You just don't know.
You just don't know.
Yeah, you just don't know.
In fact, I didn't know what to expect.
At the same time, it's a wonderful surprise here to see the white smoke billowing there.
And so after just, oh, day and a half, basically.
And here we are.
It does make you feel like there's a wonderful sense of the noise stopped, the cameras went off, they went into the chapel, they prayed, and the Holy Spirit spoke.
I mean, it just really gives us a great sense of confidence.
And indeed, this hope that's being realized that we have a new shepherd, so to speak, someone to take on the reins there and to accompany us on this journey of our life journey.
And it will be fascinating to see, as I say, you see the central lodge of St. Peter's Basilica.
You see that's where the new Pope will be appearing, as he traditionally does, to be announced that Abbe Muspapa, that we have a Pope.
And then the big surprise will be as he proceeds towards the Central Lodge and we see who that cardinal is now dressed in white.
Well, and for many people, they might be thinking, okay, why is there this long wait, as you mentioned, Thaddeus?
Why is there this long wait in between when we see the white smoke and when the Pope, the new Pope, comes out into the logger?
And it's because there's a process that's going on right now.
There is a very long process, which will be the Oath of Allegiance of the Cardinals, of which there are 132 now.
And we saw how long it took for the oath to be, for the oath to the Conclave.
I'm imagining it will take about that length for the Oath of Allegiance.
Well, and also, Liz, you had mentioned before, way before in our discussion, the Room of Tears, which has become very essential right now.
So right now, the Pope, the new Pope, would have gone, or is it after?
I would think that the ballots are burned after.
I think he's already, and I think that's one of the reasons why this is kind of a funny hour.
As it got to be past five, I was thinking, well, I guess now we have to wait until seven.
But I think this must have been the time that he spent in that room of tears thinking about or preparing himself for what is look at that square.
And that square is just, it's a microcosm of the millions, if not billions, who are watching, all of them fixed to see some of them already Christians, Catholics, but other people who are really searching.
And there is so much searching going on in the world.
I don't know how many of the people that I've been working with in the secular media circles who talk about, well, I used to be Catholic or I went to Catholic school or I was an altar boy or I was this.
But they somehow feel this moment as still their own.
It's a funny thing about those sacraments, right, Father?
It's like, hard to get rid of those.
And so he's also the father to those people and to all the others who don't even know that they're orphaned yet.
All the people we pray for on Good Friday.
Exactly.
And there's also a real life need going on in the Room of Tears as well, because probably the tailors are very busy adjusting one of those cassocks to be able for the new Pope to be able to wear out until the Lord's time.
Oh, and don't forget the barber.
They keep a barber back there just in case he needs like a shave and a trim or something.
Because some of them show up scrubby for the conclave.
They're not expecting it.
So apparently they've got a barber back there.
Also sworn to secrecy.
But these are incredible moments, aren't they?
Wow.
And what a surprise.
You were sending out that report on looking at history, and here we are, the smoke billowing out, and here we are waiting now to see who the new Pope will be.
Okay, there's movement.
Okay.
Here we go.
The white curtains are behind the glass door.
Now the doors are being opened.
Luisi first.
Here we are, Miss.
The Cardinal Proto-Deacon.
Dominique Mondi.
And he's smiling.
He's smiling.
He will give us the announcement.
here we are.
Suspense?
Sancte Romane Ecclesiae, Cardinalem Prevost, qui sibi nomen imposuit Leonem Decimum Quartum.
So, the Pope is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who's taken the name of Leo XIV, Pope Leo XIV.
Cardinal Provost is an American, and he spent most of his ministry in Latin America, in Peru, and also in Paraguay.
And he then, he's an Augustinian father.
He was the provincial in Latin America and then became the bishop of Chiclayo in Peru.
And he then is also, he became the Superior General of the Augustinian Fathers as well.
He's now the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
We see the Cardinal Electors.
They're appearing on the balcony there as well with this joy and smiles on their face.
A great joy indeed.
And well, it wasn't Lenovo, but to say, what a great joy.
It's a wonderful joy.
And he's from Chicago.
Yes.
Illinois.
Okay.
An American.
Nice.
An American.
I think that's a historic moment.
It's truly, truly historic.
Here we are.
There we are.
Pope Leo XIV is now a Pope.
Coming to the central logger of the Basilica.
Very special moment.
Very special moment.
There he is.
There he is, Cardinal.
And the applause going up, the greeting, the waving.
Big smile.
How amazing.
How amazing.
And Dr. Liz Love is also talking about the symbolism of the red that he's wearing.
You know, it is a sacrificial role, and that is the symbol of the cloth that he's wearing right now.
And we see this beautiful close-up view from the side there at the same level as the logger.
And we're hearing the bands below the mutual salute of the anthems, the hymns of the Vatican hymn and the Italian national anthem as we do traditionally through Eastern and Christmas, as we've mentioned.
And after this, now, Pope Leo XIV will give a greeting and impart his first apostolic blessing, the Urbiet Orbi, to the city and to the whole world.
And we're all silent now, awaiting his first words.
La pace sia con tutti voi!
Fratelli, sorelle carissimi, questo è il primo saluto del Cristo risorto, il buon pastore che ha dato la vita per il grege di Dio.
Anquío vore que cuesto saluto di pace, entrance ne ostro cuore, rajungese le voestre familie, a tutte le persone, ovun que si ano, a tutti popoli,
a tutta la terra la pace sia con voi we're just hearing the first words of pope leo the 14th as he continues
We'll provide a summary here in just a moment.
As we listen to his words, he's asked everyone to brother.
This is the peace of the risen Christiane.
A peace that is disarmed and humble and persevering.
comes from God, God who loves all of us without any limits and conditions.
And we still have the sound in our ears of the weak voice of Pope Francis, who is blessing Rome here.
We have that fresh in our minds, in our hearts, in our ears, hearing his voice, the Pope who was blessing Rome and giving his blessing to the world on that morning, on that day of Easter Sunday.
Allow me to continue that same blessing.
God loves everyone.
Evil will not prevail.
We are all in the hands of God.
So without fear, united, hand in hand, with God and among ourselves, we go forward.
We are disciples of Christ.
Christ goes before us, the world needs his light, humanity needs him, as the bridge between God and his love.
May we all bridges with dialogue and encounter so that we can all be one people all in peace.
Thank you, Pope Francis, for all you've done.
We're hearing the first words here of Pope Leo XIV.
just elected Pope.
I'd like to also thank my brother Cardinals who chose me to be the successor of Peter and to walk along with you.
Searching all together for peace and justice and working together men and women faithful to Christ without fear to proclaim the gospel to be missionaries.
Pope Leo offering these initial words, which we're just translating on the fly here.
I'm a son of Saint Augustine and I'm an Augustiniano Vescovo.
With you, I am a Christian, and for you, I am a bishop.
May we all walk together towards that to the place that God has prepared for us.
May we walk together to the church of Rome as Bishop of Rome, of course.
A special greeting.
We've got to look at how we can together be a missionary church.
The church that builds bridges that is always open to receive everyone, just like in this square, to receive everyone, to welcome everyone our charity, And now, a greeting in Spanish.
Please allow me here todos aquellios y modo particular a miquerida diosesis de Chiclayo en el tremendous to all of you, but especially to the people of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru.
Donde un pueblo fiel ha acompañado a su obispo, ha compartido su fe y ha dado tanto, tanto para seguir siendo iglesia fiel de su Cristo.
A tutti voi, fratelli e sorelle di Roma, d'Italia, di tutto il mondo, vogliamo essere una chiesa sinodale, una chiesa che camina, una chiesa che cerca sempre la pace.
a church that's a pilgrim that shows charity always and especially is charitable to those who are suffering Oggi, il giorno della supplica alla Madonna di Pompei.
Today is the day of praying to the Madonna of Pompei.
Our Blessed Mother Mary always wants to be close to us.
She always wants to intercede for us through her love.
Let us pray together for this new nation for peace in the Lord.
That she will help us give us a special grace, our mother.
May my greeting of peace enter into your hearts and reach your families, all people, wherever you are, all peoples of the entire planet.
May peace be with you.
God's peace be with you, he said.
And here we see him after having given that opening and beautiful words.
Continuing also the message of Pope Francis, where he even said in Spanish and Italian, and the Holy Father Pope Leo and all receiving this through new technology, online, everywhere, plenary indulgence and the formula established by the Christianity of the Lord.
We pray to Almighty God and guide the church and the entire world, to all of you joining us.
So we now prepare ourselves to receive this solemn blessing wherever we are, at home, in your car, at work, wherever you are.
unidentified
Sancti Apostoli Petrus et Paulus, De quorum potestate et autoritate confidimus.
So, the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, and we also pray to the Blessed Mary, Beate Ioannis Baptiste et Sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli et Omnium Sanctorum,
Miseriatur Vestri Omnipotens Deus, et dimisis omnibus peccatis vestris, perducat vos, Iesus Christus, ad vitam aeternam, indulgentiam, absolutionem, et remissionem Omnium Peccatorum Vestrorum, spazium vere et fructuose penitentie, cor semper penitens et emendationem vite.
graciam, et consolazionum, sancti spiritus, et finalem perseverantium in bonis, operibus, tribu at vovis, omnipotence, et misericors dominus.
Amen.
Et benedicio dei omnipotentis.
Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti discendat supervos et maniat semper.
And we just heard the blessing there, received the blessing there of Pope Leo XIV and to the world, to the city, this most solemn blessing to all of us and all of you listening and watching out there.
What is interesting, he's smiling, and I found very touching the fact that he made reference to his former diocese in Peru and spoke to them in Spanish.
You know, very, very touching moment, and how they are thanking them for how they accompanied him.
And so, from this moment, I think we all accompany the new Holy Father with our prayers and support.
unidentified
And once again, he asked, just like Pope Francis did before, he asks for continued prayers.
You know, this is a heavy task, as we all noted before.
And he continues to ask all of us for prayers and also for the intercession of Our Lady on the special feast day.
And he asked us especially to be bridge builders, as he is honored, a bridge builder as well.
That we should all be dead in bridges, both here in the diocese of Rome, in Italy, and throughout the world.
And that we should build that on fraternity and on solidarity and on dialogue.
So many times, Pope Francis told us the same.
You know, there have been false debates, I think, in leading up to this about unity and diversity and things, but he's made it clear that he's looking for us to be united, but also to be the bridge builders and to bring about peace in the world through.
We're seeing this stunning footage or this video.
Our Vatty Drone there going close to the balcony and seeing, I'm thinking for the first time, unique images like this up close of the new Pope.
There's about 100,000 people we're getting in the square right now who are seeing Pope Leo XIV for the first time.
This is the European Pymanta from the border of Texas and Mexico that Pope Francis spoke to him when he was there.
It's amazing, all the people who are appearing in the square now and the connections they had present and past.
Again, quite a novelty, an American Pope.
And here he is waving.
And again, once again, you can see the emotion and sense of responsibility of the office.
Well, this is a beautiful view seeing from inside the logger looking out what he would see as he waves to the crowds.
It's a very interesting place there today.
I don't know if you remember, we used to do the commentaries from that place behind off to the side of that big hall of blessings.
And after those blessings, we would greet the Pope as well.
Briefly afterward, either in Easter or at Christmas.
Well, that's our historic moment.
The warning is over.
We have a new warning in the world.
And, you know, oh, Monsieur Vito, you were telling us here about, I mean, you were translating the prayer.
This is the prayer that is read, or the blessing, I'm sorry, the Orpheus or the Orbitor.
So do you want to hear that?
Sure.
So may the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, in whose power and authority we trust, intercede us for us before the Lord through the prayers and merits of Blessed Mary of the Virgin, St. Michael the Archangel, St. John the Baptist, or the Apostles Peter and Paul, and the saints.
May Almighty God have mercy on you and forgive you all your sins.
And may Jesus Christ be the eternal.
And then he speaks about the indulgence and the absolution and remission of sins.
And he also gives the blessing.
I have not my moment titled to give the OVID OV blessing, but we heard it from him.
But again, it's the most solemn blessing that he gives and imparts.
And again, in his words, he offered greetings of peace to everyone everywhere and stressed that he wishes to be a builder of peace in his ministry and to that we can all be part of that in our own efforts in what we do.
And two or three times mentioning the word missionary, I think probably also echoing his own experience as a missionary bishop and now a pope.
unidentified
I found also that very touching, this openness to the world.
And he's someone who is coming from the outside.
He has been in the Korean and now he has both worlds.
And this is very interesting and quite assuring, I think, for the church.
Coming up, more memorable moments of 2025 as part of our day-long marathon.
Next, watch highlights from the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary parade held in Washington, D.C.
Then King Charles III delivers his annual Christmas address.
And later, it's the Supreme Court oral argument on President Trump's executive order limiting birthright citizenship.
All this week, watch Washington Journal's Holiday Authors Week series, featuring live conversations with a new author each day.
And coming up Friday morning, former New York Republican Congressman Chris Gibson discusses his book, The Spirit of Philadelphia, a call to recover the founding principles.
Watch Authors Week live during Washington Journal Friday morning at 7 Eastern on C-SPAN.
C-SPAN Now, our free mobile app, or online at c-span.org.