Habemus Papam! With those two famous words and white smoke billowing from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square rejoiced in the election of a new Pope. It is with a full heart that Edmonton Catholic Schools joins Catholics worldwide in celebrating Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost‘s election as Pope. He has chosen the papal name Leo XIV.

Standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV’s first words were “Peace be with all of you!”. In his first speech to Catholics around the world, the Pope expressed a message of love, hope, and compassion.

We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.

Who is Pope Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost is 69 years old and was born in Chicago. He was named Cardinal by Pope Francis in September 2023. He is the second Pope from the Americas, but the first born in the United States. Prevost is also Peruvian, having spent many years as a missionary in Peru. And much like his predecessor was the first Jesuit Pope, Prevost now becomes the first Augustinian Pope in the history of the Catholic church. 

Papal Name

Pope Leo XIV is the 267th Pope in history and the first named after St. Leo in more than 100 years. 

The first act of a new Pope is to choose his name. St. Leo, who was also known as Leo the Great, believed in the value of fine education and was known for his exceptional ability to settle disputes among individuals and groups. 

St. Leo Catholic Elementary School now shares the name of our new Pope. 

The Process

The process to elect a new Pope began when Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. Two weeks after his death and burial, 133 eligible Cardinals entered conclave, including former Archbishop of Edmonton Cardinal Collins. A two-thirds majority was needed to elect a new Pope and it took until the afternoon of the second day of conclave for the white smoke to appear. 

Prayer for Pope Leo XIV

We offer prayers for Pope Leo XIV, asking God to grant him wisdom, strength, courage, compassion, and grace as he leads the Church on its journey of faith and hope.

O God, who in your providential design willed that your Church be built upon blessed Peter, whom you set over the other Apostles, look with favour, we pray, on Leo XIV our Pope and grant that he, whom you have made Peter’s successor, may be for your people a visible source and foundation of unity in faith and of communion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. 

The Roman Missal (Third Typical Edition, Canadian Edition, 2011)