So the world celebrates the new Pope Leo XIV.

« Habemus Papam, » calls a young man with his cell phone on the ear. It begins to run and puts on the bystanders. A tourist with a backpack runs, towards St. Peter’s Square. Next to her other people, the races. A woman falls, loses her shoe. In the background you can hear the bells of the pars’ cathedral ringing. Now everyone is running. « Habemus papam, habemus papam, » they call. Or « Viva Il Papa! » St. Peter’s Square lies in white smoke. A new Pope is elected.

Then the famous words fall: « Habemus papam »

It then takes another hour for the red curtain to open at the top of the balcony. The French Cardinal Protodiacon Dominique Mamberti now also officially speaks the famous words: « I announced you great joy: We have a Pope. His eminence, the highly worthy Mr. Robert Francis, the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Prevost, who gave itself the name Leo XIV. »

Shortly thereafter, the new Pope waves the enthusiastic amount of the loggia, he looks a bit overwhelmed. And happy at the same time. Robert Francis Prevost, his bourgeois name, 69 years old, has to swallow and he smiles. It is 7:23 p.m. on Thursday evening. The microphone is served with the new head of the Catholics. « Peace is with you! » Are his first words to the world. This peace seems to have a priority for this 267th Pope.

Leo XIV only needed four electoral courses.

The cardinals had chosen him in just four electoral courses and for the first time in history, an American chose to the Petri chair. However, the « most un -American of all Americans », as the Italian press wrote in front of the conclave. This is because Prevost lived in Peru for a long time and was a bishop there. He even addresses the crowd in Spanish. He was born in Chicago, but he could be called a Latin American. This profile has apparently also convinced many of the 133 cardinals in the conclave.

In contrast to his predecessor Francis, who had entered the loggia in 2013 in 2013, Pope Leo XIV bears the papal stole and the red shoulder coat, called Mozzetta. Is the new pontificate more based on Benedikt’s style? In his speech, which Leo XIV reads calmly and calmly, the new Pope promises a « synodal », that is, a jointly advancing church. Perhaps this was the greatest concern of his predecessor, which Prevost reminded of his speech in his speech. He still think of Francis’s weak voice on Easter Sunday, one day before his death. « Let us build bridges through dialogues and encounters, » says the new Pope. The crowd on the Piazza, estimated 50,000 people, chanted his name: « Leone, Leone ».

Did Francis secretly build up his successor?

Prevost became Novice in the Augustinian Order at the age of 22. After the Jesuit Francis, another religious man sits on the Petri chair. How large pieces of Francis kept on Prevost can also be recognized by his appointment as a cardinal bishop. It is the highest cardinal rank. This happened only a few months ago on February 5. Who knows whether Francis secretly built up his successor at the time? Leo XIV cannot be clearly determined in terms of church policy. The American was hardly expressed on controversial topics such as the role of women in the church, blessings of homosexual couples or the abolition of the compulsory allotment.

Leo XIV already had at least 89 votes in the fourth ballot, the necessary two -thirds majority for 133 cardinals entitled to vote. A real surprise. It is celebrated on St. Peter’s Square. A Brazilian nurse swings a flag in national colors over her head, it looks overjoyed. When asked who she would have wanted as a new Pope, the sister reacts with the words: « I don’t care, the main thing is that it is a pope that opens the hearts of people! »

This is how Donald Trump reacts to the first American Pope

The first reactions from all over the world are entering within minutes. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is aimed directly at the new Pope: « Due to their office, they give millions of believers worldwide hope and orientation in these times. » US President Donald Trump also speaks up. « It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. It will be a very important moment, » he said. However, Prevost is considered a Trump critic.

The evening sun immersed St. Peter’s Square in warm light, soon it will go under. The crowd is slowly dissolving. She celebrates a new beginning.