Habemus Papam! May 8th, 2025

A day in the life of Rome and Vatican City as 133 Cardinals elected, after the passing of Pope Francis, their new Pontiff…and just two days into the papal election: the Chicago-born Robert Prevost, aka Pope Leo XIV. 

The news of the nomination happened at 6.08 pm local time through the proverbial white smoke that billowed from the tiny chimney (which was connected directly to the Sistine Chapel and where the Conclave took place).  

With thousands of tourists and pilgrims that flooded St. Peter’s square the white smoke was followed by the Chamberlain who came out on the main balcony of St. Peter’s façade to pronounce the famous phrase, “Habemus Papam” (we have a pope)!  And that was followed by the presence of Pope Leo XIV who gave to Rome and to the world his acceptance speech.

Prevost also becomes the first-ever American pope in the history of the Vatican.