Finally, white smoke has risen.

"Habemus Papam (We have a Pope)"

On May 8, 2025 (local time), the new Pope awaited by the whole world was born.

Wall Street Journal: "Broke the convention that a cardinal from the United States cannot be elected"

BBC UK: "A figure who continues Pope Francis's reform policies while embracing diverse voices within the church and building bridges between different worlds"

The birth scene of the new Pope Leo 14, who is evaluated as a centrist and inclusive figure within the church, and has taken the lead in helping the poor.

On this day, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the senior deacon cardinal of the Vatican, appeared on the 'Blessing Balcony' of St. Peter's Basilica and announced the election of the new pope. This occurred on the second day of the conclave (the secret meeting of cardinals) and after only the fourth round of voting.

The new pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first American pope who has carried out pastoral work in Peru. His papal name is "Leo XIV." In Latin, "Leo" means "lion," symbolizing strength, courage, and leadership.

Newspapers featuring a photo of the newly elected Pope Leo XIV are being distributed. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

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After being elected, Leo XIV appeared on the 'Blessing Balcony' of St. Peter's Basilica and said in Italian, "La pace sia con tutti voi" ("Peace be with you all"). He then repeated the same message in Spanish, recalling his memories from Peru. Leo XIV is known to be fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and French. Although he is the first American pope in history, he delivered his speech only in Italian and Spanish on this day.

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Although Leo XIV holds American citizenship, he worked in Peru for 20 years. He was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, serving from 2014 to 2023, and was selected by Pope Francis in 2023 to serve as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. Having acquired Peruvian citizenship in 2015, his background as an American who ministered in Peru's impoverished neighborhoods and rural areas played an important role in his election as pope.

Leo XIV was mentioned as a possible candidate for the papacy by foreign media and bookmakers, but he was not considered a frontrunner. Daniel Rober, a professor at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, suggested that Prevost's administrative experience and relative independence from Vatican bureaucracy may have made him more appealing than Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's second-in-command and a leading candidate. In this conclave, 10 American cardinals held voting rights, the second largest group after Italy, which had 17.

The appearance of Pope Leo XIV in his youth. Date unknown. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

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According to the New York Times and other sources, Leo XIV spent his childhood in Chicago, United States. He naturally attended church, following his father of French and Italian descent, who served as a catechist. His mother was a Spanish-descended librarian.

He entered the Augustinian seminary, earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), and was ordained as a priest in Rome, Italy, in 1982. In addition to theology, he studied mathematics at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. After completing his studies, he spent 10 years in the Diocese of Chulucanas in northwestern Peru, which is closely associated with the Augustinian order.

New Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, is shaking hands with the late former Pope John Paul II. Date unknown. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News.

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Cardinal Robert Prevost is shaking hands with the late Pope Benedict 16. Undated photo of current Pope Leo 14. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

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From 2001, he served for 12 years as Prior General of the Augustinian Order, which emphasizes community life. Following the instructions of Pope Francis, he was dispatched in 2014 to the Diocese of Chiclayo in northwestern Peru, which is known for its oversight of impoverished and rural areas.

Leo XIV served as a close aide to Pope Francis during his lifetime. In 2023, he was appointed as a cardinal of the Vatican and took on the roles of President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, responsible for overseeing appointments such as the selection of bishops. Leo XIV assisted with Pope Francis's reforms, such as adding three women to the committee that reviews bishop appointments. However, foreign media describe him as theologically centrist and cautious.

As a result, there is speculation that, unlike his predecessor who allowed blessings for same-sex couples, he may return to a more conservative cultural stance. In 2012, he commented on homosexuality and alternative families, saying, "Western media and popular culture promote beliefs and behaviors that go against the Gospel." The New York Times reported that it is uncertain whether he will be as open to sexual minorities as Pope Francis was.

Leo XIV is known to enjoy tennis. After being appointed as a cardinal in 2023, he said in a media interview, "I am an amateur tennis player," and added, "Since leaving Peru, I have had little opportunity to practice, so I am looking forward to returning to the court."

An image of U.S. President Donald Trump depicted as the Pope, created using artificial intelligence (AI). He is seated on a chair wearing papal vestments. This photo was posted on Trump's social media account @realDonaldTrump. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

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U.S. President Donald Trump also welcomed the election of a pope from his own country. Through the social network service Truth Social, he said, "It is truly an honor to learn that he is the first American pope," and added, "I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV."

You may also be curious about his connection to Korea. Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Korea in 2027, two years from now. This is because World Youth Day, a major faith festival for Catholic youth worldwide, will be held in Seoul in 2027. He will be the third pope to visit Korea and the fourth papal visit overall. Previous papal visits include John Paul II in 1984 and 1989, and Francis in 2014, making it the first papal visit in 13 years since Pope Francis.

There is also growing interest in whether the papal visit to North Korea, which was pursued during Pope Francis's reign but did not materialize, will be revisited in connection with Leo XIV's visit to Korea or World Youth Day.