White Smoke Rises: Pope Leo XIV’s Election Signals New Era as Vatican Embraces Tradition, Transformation

By Emmanuel Kwada

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on May 8, 2025, heralding the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old American from Chicago, as Pope Leo XIV, the 267th pontiff and the first U.S.-born leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Bishop Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV

Nearly 45,000 faithful in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as the words “Habemus Papam” echoed, marking the end of a tense conclave and the start of a historic papacy.

White smoke billows from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel to announce that the 133 Cardinal electors have elected the new Pope, who will appear soon at the central window of St. Peter’s Basilica. pic.twitter.com/upT646xwH2

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 8, 2025

As the global Catholic community of 1.4 billion anticipates Leo XIV’s first public Mass today, his choice of the name “Leo” signals a commitment to peace, social justice, and continuity with the Church’s transformative traditions, as reported by Vatican News.

We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide this process

The conclave, convened after Pope Francis’s death on April 21, 2025, began on May 7 with 133 cardinal electors under the sacred vow of secrecy. Black smoke on the first day, produced by burning ballots with a chemical additive, indicated no candidate had secured the required two-thirds majority, as noted by Reuters.

“We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide this process,” Deacon Nicholas Nkoronko from Tanzania told Vatican News, reflecting the global faithful’s hope for a leader to navigate modern challenges.

Black smoke billows from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel 

By Thursday’s fourth ballot, the cardinals reached a decision, and Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced Prevost’s election as Pope Leo XIV.

Speaking in Italian and Spanish from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo XIV greeted the crowd with, “Peace be with you,” a nod to his decades as a missionary in Peru, according to the Associated Press.

The tradition of adopting a new papal name, or nomen pontificale, dates back to the early Church but became standard by the 10th century. Early popes like Linus and Clement used their baptismal names, but in 532, Pope John II, born Mercurius, changed his name to avoid pagan connotations, as documented by Catholic historical records.

Peace be with you

This practice, symbolizing spiritual rebirth and a new mission as the Vicar of Christ, has been nearly universal since the 16th century, with exceptions like Adrian VI (1522) and Marcellus II (1555).

A pope’s chosen name often serves as a programmatic statement, reflecting their vision or honoring a predecessor. Dennis Doyle, a theologian and professor emeritus at the University of Dayton, told CBS News, “The name a pope chooses is like a mission statement. It indicates a certain spirit, direction, and vision.”

For example, Pope Francis’s choice of St. Francis of Assisi’s name signaled humility and environmental stewardship. Of the 266 popes before Leo XIV, 129 adopted new names, with John (23),/eclipse (16), and Benedict (16) being the most common, while Leo, chosen by 13 predecessors, ranks fifth, according to Vatican archives.

The name a pope chooses is like a mission statement. It indicates a certain spirit, direction, and vision

Pope Leo XIV’s name choice evokes two monumental figures: Pope Leo I (440–461), known as Leo the Great, and Pope Leo XIII (1878–1903), a pioneer of Catholic social teaching.

Candida Moss, a CBS News papal contributor, remarked, “The name Leo harkens back to Leo the Great,” whose 452 meeting with Attila the Hun averted an invasion of Italy, cementing his legacy as a peacemaker. “It might mean that he too is going to stand up to oppressive political forces,” she added.

Pope Leo I (r. 440-460). Credit: Online

Leo XIII, however, may be the more direct inspiration. His 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed workers’ rights during the Industrial Revolution, advocating for fair wages and labor protections—issues that resonate amid today’s global inequality, as noted by NCR. Rev. Christopher Robinson of DePaul University told Reuters, “By picking the name Leo XIV, he shows he is committed to the social teaching of the church, which was made foundational by his predecessor Leo XIII.”

Prevost’s missionary work in Peru and role as head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops align with this focus, echoing Pope Francis’s emphasis on the marginalized.

Margaret Thompson, a historian at Syracuse University, told the Associated Press, “Leo XIV’s name invokes both Leo XIII’s social justice legacy and Leo I’s unity and tradition. It signals a pontificate that will engage modernity creatively while rooted in the Church’s deep tradition.” The choice suggests a papacy poised to address contemporary crises while fostering continuity with Francis’s inclusive vision.

As the first American pope, Leo XIV breaks a historical taboo against selecting a pontiff from a superpower, a concern tempered by his dual U.S.-Peruvian citizenship and fluency in Spanish and Italian, as reported by Vatican News.

Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the faithful for the first time as the 267th Pope. pic.twitter.com/tsA1a0XSOM

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 8, 2025

His Augustinian background—the first pope from the Order of St. Augustine—positions him as a bridge-builder in a Church grappling with ideological divides and global challenges. His social media posts, critical of U.S. immigration policies and Vice President JD Vance’s religious views, indicate a willingness to confront issues like racism, migration, and social justice, according to posts analyzed on X.

Late Pope Francis. Credit: Vatican News

However, challenges loom. Groups like SNAP have raised concerns about Prevost’s handling of clerical abuse cases in Chicago and Peru, an issue requiring transparent action to maintain credibility, as reported by NCR. “We have to be a church that works together to build bridges,” Leo XIV declared from the balcony, signaling an inclusive approach, per Vatican News. His name, evoking both a defender of peace and a champion of social justice, sets the tone for a papacy that could redefine the Church’s role in the 21st century.

As Pope Leo XIV prepares to lead his first Mass, the Vatican and the world watch closely. With a name rooted in tradition yet forward-looking in its implications, Leo XIV stands at the cusp of a new era, ready to guide the Church through a complex global landscape with faith, courage, and a commitment to unity.

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