Conclave votes: First American pope chosen in history; Cardinal Robert Prevost (live updates)

VATICAN CITY — A morning Mass was held in St. Peter’s Basilica hours before 133 cardinals began the conclave to select the man who will replace Pope Francis as the next pontiff.

Pope Leo XIV addresses faithful

Update 1:27 p.m. ET May 8: Pope Leo XIV has greeted the crowd that had gathered, telling them, “Peace be with you all.”

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He said, “God Loves Us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God.”

He said we need to “build bridges with dialogue, with meeting, to be one common people living always in peace.”

He then thanked Pope Francis, who raised him as a Cardinal in 2023.

As the pope spoke, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social his congratulations to the first American pope.

Pope Leo XIV

Update 1:18 p.m. ET May 8: Cardinal Robert Prevost will serve under the papal name of Pope Leo XIV.

He is 69 and from Chicago. He was the prefect of the dicastery for bishops. In the past, he ran the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru and was a missionary. Pope Francis elevated him to cardinal in 2023.

Cardinal Robert Prevost chosen

Update 1:16 p.m. ET May 8: Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected and will be the first American chosen to lead the Catholic church.

Pope announced

Update 1:13 p.m. ET May 8: Just over an hour after white smoke was seen coming from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, a Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Cardinal Protodeacon, stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce who will be the 267th person to lead the Catholic church, succeeding Pope Francis who died on April 21, the day after Easter.

The Swiss Guard, the Vatican security force, took its position in the square prior to the announcement, according to The Associated Press.

Also seen in the crowd were the cardinals who were too old vote in the conclave. Those included Cardinals Sean O’Malley and Donald Wuerl, both from the U.S.

What happens next?

Update 1 p.m. ET May 8: The new pope will be dressed in new papal vestments and will sit on the throne in the Sistine Chapel, receiving the other cardinals who will swear obedience to him.

The senior cardinal deacon will go to the central balcony at the basilica and announce, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam” (I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope).

He will then announce the pope by his cardinal name and then the name he chose to serve as pope.

The new pope will come on the balcony as his first public appearance as pontiff, and bless the crowd gathered below.

In a few days, a mass will be held to celebrate his ministry.

Pope selected, white smoke seen

Update 12:10 p.m. ET May 8: White smoke has billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney. The thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square erupted into cheers.

The smoke emerged at 6:07 p.m. local time, The Associated Press reported.

The bells at St. Peter’s Basilica tolled, announcing the election.

The person who will be raised as pope had at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals in the conclave, the AP explained.

His name will be announced when a cardinal says “Habemus papam!” or Latin for “We have a pope!” Then the cardinal will read the new pope’s birth name and then the papal name that he has chosen.

The new pope is expected to make his first public appearance and give a blessing.

Second, third votes, black smoke

Update 7:40 a.m. ET May 8: A second and third vote were held Thursday morning and both saw black smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney, The Associated Press reported.

The cardinals returned to the Vatican residences for lunch and will then return to the chapel for afternoon votes. Two more may happen today.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, hopes to see white smoke this evening. Re is not participating in the conclave due to his age. He is 91, older than the maximum 80 years old permitted to vote for the new pontiff, the AP reported.

Both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis were selected on the second day of voting. It took four votes for Benedict and five for Francis, CNN reported.

Black smoke, no pope

Update 3 p.m. ET May 7: Black smoke poured from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, indicating that no pope has been elected during the first vote of the conclave.

It was more than four hours since the cardinals entered the chapel until the first signs of smoke were seen, The Associated Press reported.

CNN reported the cardinals will be returning to the Santa Marta residence and sequestered until Thursday, when additional votes are cast.

Chapel doors locked

Update 11:47 a.m. ET May 7: The doors to the Sistine Chapel are closed and the conclave has begun. The next time the doors open, there will be a new person selected to lead the Catholic church, CNN reported.

The chapel is locked to outsiders and the voting will be done in secret.

Cardinals take oath

Update 11:01 a.m. ET May 7: The cardinals have sworn as a group, “with the greatest fidelity… secrecy regarding everything that in any way relates to the election of the Roman Pontiff," CNN reported. It was followed by an individual oath, in order of seniority and in Latin, “And I… do promise, pledge and swear. So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I touch with my hand."

Procession begins

Update 10:34 a.m. ET May 7: The 133 cardinals have started their procession to the Sistine Chapel. They chanted the “Litany of the Saints” and “Veni Creator,” asking for guidance from the saints and the Holy Spirit, The Associated Press reported.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is at the conclave as one of the electors. He had asked via X that the faithful keep him and the rest of the college of cardinals who will be locked in the Sistine Chapel in their prayers.

Original report: Pope Francis died on April 21 at the age of 88.

The cardinals returned to the Santa Maria guesthouse to rest and have lunch before the conclave formally begins, CNN reported.

At 4:30 p.m. or 10:30 a.m. ET, the cardinals will walk to the Sistine Chapel, chanting the “Litany of the Saints” and “Veni Creator,” The Associated Press reported.

They will then take oaths, participate in a meditation and once the master of papal liturgical ceremonies presents “Extra omnes” or “all out” the doors will be closed and locked, sequestering the College of Cardinals from the outside world as they select Pope Francis’ successor, the AP reported.

Only one vote will be held today, while two will be held daily until a two-thirds majority is reached.

After each vote, the ballots will be burned in a special stove. If black smoke billows from the chimney recently installed at the chapel, no pope has been elected. If white smoke pours out, then there is a new leader of the Catholic church.

A conclave will go on for as long as needed. The longest was almost three years from 1268 to 1271. Some have been a day. The conclave that selected Pope John Paul in 1978 lasted less than three days. The conclave that chose Pope Francis took about two days.

Only one ballot will be cast on the first day, then each day after there will be two voting sessions until someone has a majority of two-thirds plus one.

If that is not reached after three days, the conclave takes a day break to allow the cardinals to pray and discuss.

Then voting resumes.

The ballots are cast in secret.

Each time a pope is not elected, the ballots will be burned in a stove and will have an additive to make black smoke, indicating that a pope has not been chosen.

When one is, the person will be asked if he accepts the position and what name under which he will serve.

The new pope will be dressed in new papal vestments and will sit on the throne in the Sistine Chapel, receiving the other cardinals who will swear obedience to him.

The senior cardinal deacon will go to the central balcony at the basilica and announce, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam” (I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope).

He will then announce the pope by his cardinal name and then the name he chose to serve as pope.

The new pope will come on the balcony as his first public appearance as pontiff and bless the crowd gathered below.

Days later, a mass will be held to celebrate his ministry.

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