At 1:13pm (ET) today, Senior Cardinal Deacon, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, walked onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church, succeeding Pope Francis who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. Cardinal Prevost has chosen Leo XIV as his papal name.
Bishop Leo XIV is 69 years old. He was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1955, the first pope from the United States. He is an Augustinian who served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023. Pope Francis made him a Cardinal in 2023 and appointed him as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.
“We are grateful to the cardinal electors for their prayerful consideration in the process, we are grateful to all who prayed for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. May prayers continue for our new pope and for our church in this Jubilee Year of Hope,” said Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger, who is currently away on a mission trip. “May God’s light shine through each of us, in all that we say and do.”
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Fr. Bob Longobucco, Vicar General for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, and Fr. Donald Rutherford, Vicar for Clergy, will be available at the Pastoral Center, 40 North Main Ave., Albany at 2:30pm.
Pull into the driveway to the left of the building, park in the lot, come to the door on the parking lot side of the building and let them know you are there for media availability.
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