At 5.45pm on May 7th, the doors to the Sistine Chapel were locked, enclosing the College of Cardinals in conclave. Just after 6.00pm on May 8th, white smoke issued from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, announcing the successful election of the next Successor of Saint Peter. An hour and a half later, Cardinal Mamberti appeared on the loggia (balcony) of Saint Peter’s Basilica, declaring: “Habemus papam!” We have a pope! Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected the 267th pope, taking the name Leo XIV (the fourteenth).

From the balcony, Pope Leo greeted the world: “Peace be with you all! Dear brothers and sisters, these are the first words spoken by the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for God’s flock. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.  Peace be with you! …We are followers of Christ.  Christ goes before us.  The world needs his light.  Humanity needs him as the bridge that can lead us to God and his love.”

Pope Leo was born September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Before his election as pope, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost served as the Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, and briefly as Apostolic Administrator of Callao. A member of the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), he brings to the papacy decades of experience in missionary service.

His prior roles include serving as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops from 2023 to 2025, where he played a key role in shaping episcopal leadership worldwide. Earlier, he was Prior General of the Augustinians (2001–2013), and before becoming a bishop, he worked in Peru as a seminary professor, judicial vicar, parish pastor, and diocesan official. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis on September 30, 2023.

Beginning on Monday 5th May and concluding on Friday 9th May, our parish held a daily holy hour of Eucharistic adoration from 6.00pm—7.00pm at St Francis Xavier Church to pray for the conclave and to give thanks to God for the gift of a new pope. My sincere thanks to the many parishioners who attended. Your presence is a sign of your love for Christ, for Peter, and for the Church. Let us pray fervently for Pope Leo XIV as he commences his exercise of the petrine ministry.