American Robert Francis Prevost is the new pope

"Peace be with all of you," the new pope said before recalling his predecessor, Pope Francis.

León XIV then delivered a speech in Spanish, which drew applause from the square. He sent greetings "to everyone," especially to his diocese in Peru, Chulucanas, "where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, have shared their faith and have given so much, so much to continue to be faithful church of Jesus Christ."

Turning to Italian, he told all the faithful of the world that they should be a charitable and pilgrim Church, which cares for "those who suffer."

Then he led a prayer.

American Robert Prevost, under the name Leo XIV, is the new pope. Aged 69, he was born in Chicago and has parents of French and Spanish origin. He spent some four decades in Peru, where he was a bishop.

As VOZ reported yesterday, Prevost snuck into the short list of the purpurates who entered the conclave as favorites. His peers describe him as "serene and temperate, of leisurely speech, affable gaze and firm convictions. One of those leaders who prefer to build from within rather than seek the spotlight."

In the 1980s, Prevost was sent as an Augustinian missionary to the diocese of Chulucanas, where he lived for more than 10 years, surrounded by poverty. After being superior general of the Augustinians for two terms (2001-2013), he returned to Peru as bishop of Chiclayo. There he maintained that same style: simple, close pastor, with a keen ear for detecting local leaders and forming new vocations.

In doctrinal matters he is placed on the side of the reformers following the legacy of Francis. However, unlike the Argentine, he flees from the spotlight and has hardly given interviews or participated in public debates.

He has had a brilliant career during the final years of the last pope, who took him to Rome to put him at the head of the Dicastery of Bishops, in charge of the appointment of new prelates around the world. He also made him a member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

After the white smoke that announces the election of a new pope, the new pontiff will go to the so-called Hall of Tears, located at the back of the Sistine Chapel, where he can pray and mourn for the responsibilities that now weigh on his shoulders.

After wearing his first white cassock, characteristic of the popes, the cardinals promise him obedience. It is worth noting that the chosen one must accept the position, so the process takes a little longer.

Then he will be announced. Prelate Dominique Mamberti will then pronounce the famous Habemus papam ("We have a pope"), revealing the name chosen by the chosen one for his papacy. That new name may reveal clues as to what his mandate will be like (Jorge Bergoglio, for example, chose Francis in reference to a saint devoted to the poor).

Then the new pope will impart a blessing. During the next few days a mass will be celebrated before religious and political leaders, as a sort of investiture. He will also tour the square in the popemobile, delivering a homily in which he is expected to determine his priorities.

White smoke, the bells of St. Peter's Basilica ring: the conclave has elected the next pope. Thousands of faithful in the square broke into applause and cheers, while more and more people approach the square to find out who will be the next pope.

The world is now looking at the balcony where the 267th pontiff will appear.

After the lunch break, the 133 cardinals reconvened in the Sistine Chapel. If the first vote results in consensus, the identity of the next pope could be announced within the hour. If not, a second vote will take place, potentially delaying the outcome by more than two and a half hours.

If both smoke signals are black, indicating no decision, the smoke watch will resume tomorrow.

There is still no new pope after three rounds of voting. Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel shortly before noon, signaling that the 133 cardinals of the Conclave have not yet reached an agreement on who will succeed Pope Francis.

The night did not exactly bring rest to the cardinals participating in the Conclave. The dinner and the corridors of the residence of Santa Marta became witness to conversations between groups of cardinals talking about the papabili in search of support for the various favorites or studying new ways if the voting continues to remain stuck.

José Beltrán, director and special envoy of the specialized magazine Vida Nueva to Rome, points out the importance of these conversations in the election of the pontiffs: "As in previous conclaves, it is often the conversations during and after dinner that prompt the so-called 'great electors' to rally support behind certain papal candidates. These informal—but not secret—discussions take place in various settings: the dining room of what until recently was Pope Francis’s residence, the multipurpose rooms on the first floor, corridors, or stairwells. It is in these spaces that some candidacies begin to solidify, while others start to unravel." 

A seagull became the sympathetic protagonist of the afternoon as it waited for the smoke to rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. The bird landed several times on the roof of the building, next to the mechanism in charge of telling the world whether or not the cardinals reached an agreement. The thousands of people who crowded St. Peter's Square began to applaud and cheer the animal each time it landed and hopped between the ancient tiles.

In addition, the situation of the seagull, in full shot of the Vatican cameras that sent the live signal to the media around the world, made social networks full of memes about the bird. It also became the protagonist of numerous news stories.

Some users joked that the bird came to replace the Holy Ghost (represented by Christian tradition as a dove), who had to "absent himself" from the Vatican when no new pope was elected. Others, however, pointed out that Francis' changes are so great that he has even changed the bird that symbolizes the third person of the Trinity.

The 133 cardinal electors returned to the Sistine Chapel where they will again try to elect Pope Francis' replacement. After the initial groping, Parolin has seen his position of great favorite weaken after falling into a pincer between the reformist sector, which accuses him of betraying Francis' legacy and pacting with conservatives, while they continue to hold him responsible for the agreement with the Communist Government of China and for several of Bergoglio's "mistakes".

The other papables also failed to get the votes required to be named pontiff and began to emerge names of a second line of caps that could take force in the event that throughout the day on Thursday none of the favorites get enough support to occupy the chair of St. Peter.