Many people saw it coming. After the black smoke on Wednesday and again on Thursday morning, many were confident that the afternoon would bring the long-awaited conclusion. The cardinals gathered once more at 4:30 p.m. An hour later, all eyes turned to the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel… and to the seagulls, which seemed unwilling to leave, as if they too were awaiting the imminent announcement.
The most foresighted among us were already in St. Peter’s Square, alongside tens of thousands of others. The rest of us, like so many around the world, followed the broadcast from home, with the Vatican’s YouTube channel playing in the background as we waited for the news. And then it happened. At 6:07 p.m., white smoke began to rise. We ran as fast as we could to witness a historic moment.
Around 7 p.m., the cardinal protodeacon appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s to pronounce the long-awaited formula: Habemus Papam! Robert Francis Prevost, who had been Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, will henceforth be Leo XIV.
Visibly moved, the new Pope stood in silence for a few moments, a serene smile on his face, before addressing the world for the first time as the successor of Peter:
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Peace be with you!
Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome - the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.
Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.
Thank you Pope Francis!
Thank you to my Cardinal brothers who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel.
I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian. He said, “With you I am a Christian, for you a bishop." So may we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.
To the Church of Rome, a special greeting: We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.
[In Spanish]: Hello to everyone, and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop.
[Returning to Italian]: To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.
Today is the day of the Supplicatio [Plea] to Our Lady of Pompei.
Our blessed mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. So let us pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church, and for peace in the world.
We ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother.
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When he finished speaking, the square erupted in applause. Some began an enthusiastic chant in Italian: Leone! Leone! Leone! followed by a wave of rhythmic clapping. And so began the pontificate of Leo XIV: with a message of peace — disarmed and disarming — like the one Jesus gave his disciples after the Resurrection.