ROME – Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the new pope, and chosen the name Leo XIV.

The 133 cardinal electors have elected the 267th Roman Pontiff. Shortly after smoke came out of the chimney installed on the Sistine Chapel.

This was announced on the Loggia of Blessings in St. Peter’s Basilica by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, with the formula “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum, habemus Papam.”

The pontiff was elected on the fourth ballot, after the black smoke of Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

Pope Leo IV appeared at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his Urbi et Orbi blessing – to the City and the World, Vatican News announced.

Manila rejoices in election of new Pope

Meanwhile, Mayor Honey Lacuna joined the Archdiocese of Manila and all Filipino Catholics in welcoming and celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV by the cardinal-electors at the Vatican.

“As a Catholic, a Thomasian, and the Mayor of the Philippines’ capital, I add my voice to those of millions of Filipino Catholics rejoicing in the election of Pope Leo XIV,” Mayor Lacuna said.

“Ang pagkakahirang sa bagong Santo Papa ay nagbibigay ng panibagong pag-asa at lakas sa ating pananampalataya. Nawa’y magsilbing gabay ito sa atin na laging piliin ang kabutihan at tuwinang iwaksi ang kasamaan sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay,” Lacuna said.

“The cardinal electors’ spiritual discernment over the past days since the passing of the beloved Pope Francis has filled the vacuum of moral leadership Pope Francis left. We have a new advocate of charity, peace, justice, and social equality. We pray for our new Pope’s good health and success,” the mayor also said.

Lacuna added that “with this faith chapter in the immediate past, Filipinos can now focus on a similar but another kind of discernment that will decide the country’s future.”

“For Manileños in particular, I pray that they carefully weigh moral choices now before them in much the same way that the cardinals discerned and chose,” the first woman mayor of Manila said.
PNA/Agenzia Nova