A new Pope has been elected by the 133 Cardinal electors gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

He is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, to be known as Pope Leo XIV, the new spiritual leader of the global Catholic Church, and has appeared at the central window of St Peter’s Basilica.

Just after 5pm UK time, Thursday 8 May, white smoke billowed out of the temporary smokestack installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, heralding the news that a new Pope had been elected – the cardinals had chosen the 267th Pope.

On behalf of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, Archbishop Bernard Longley has released a welcome message:

"I welcome the wonderful news of the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.  As he prepared to give us his first blessing as Pope in St Peter’s Square he also gave us a message of joyful encouragement, calling us to be bridge-builders who are the light of Christ in the world.  As the first Pope from the United States of America he also remembered the people of Chiclayo in Peru where he had served as bishop until 2023.

"I have just spent the last few days at Buckfast Abbey with all the Bishops of England and Wales as we prayed for the Cardinals in Conclave and as we waited to hear whom the Holy Spirit would identify as the Successor of Peter.  It will be a great joy to serve the Church’s mission inspired by the guidance of Pope Leo. All the lay faithful, the Religious and clergy of our Archdiocese are praying for our new Holy Father that he may serve the Church for many years and be richly blessed in his apostolate."

Archbishop Bernard will be offering the 12.15pm Mass at St Chad's Cathedral on Friday 9 May (the first Mass after the Conclave) for our new Holy Father.

Let us pray for our new Holy Father. Habemus Papam: We have a Pope!

Main photograph: © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Biography of our new Pope

News story from the Bishops' Conference

Statements of Welcome from the Bishops' of England and Wales

Picture courtesy of Vatican News