"HABEMUS PAPAM!: Wild Cheers as America-Born Cardinal, Robert Prevost Emerges As New Religious Leader of Catholics Across The World, Takes the Name Pope Leo XIV
By: Israel Adeleke, Olufemi Orunsola
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered from established sources that in a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope, succeeding Pope Francis.
OTN News further reports that the announcement was made on Thursday from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, following two days of deliberations by the College of Cardinals inside the Sistine Chapel.
The name of the new Pope was announced after cardinal Mamberti uttered the words, ‘Habemus papam!’, the Latin language that means, ‘We have a pope!’ from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Mamberti who proclaimed the election to the world before revealing that Cardinal Prevost had taken the papal name Leo XIV, said, “I announce to you a great joy; we have a Pope: The Most Eminent and Most Reverend Lord, Lord Robert Francis Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church Prevost who has taken the name Leo XIV.”
OTN News further observes that the white smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney earlier in the day signaled to the thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square that a new pope had been chosen.
Moments later, Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, stepped out onto the central loggia, receiving thunderous applause and cheers from the faithful.
Pope Leo XIV now assumes the spiritual leadership of over 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Born in the United States, his election marks a significant moment in church history as the world now watches to see how the American pontiff will take the reins of the ancient Church and what his reign might mean for the future of faith.
What's Your Reaction?
