Catholic cardinals gathered at the Vatican this week to elect the successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plans to attend the inaugural Mass of newly elected Pope Leo at the Vatican on Sunday, war commitments permitting, a top presidential aide told Reuters on Tuesday.

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon, indicating the cardinals had elected a successor to Pope Francis.

Long Islanders were among those who packed St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City when Pope Leo was elected the first American leader of the Catholic Church.

Political figures around the world have congratulated Robert Francis Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, after his election on Thursday, May 8, as Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Hailing from Chicago and a dual U.

John Prevost, one of the older brothers of Pope Leo XIV, said he briefly spoke with the pope to inform him they were headed to Rome.

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been announced as the new pontiff and has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. There are no written rules or official criteria for a pope's name, but they choose names that have meaning in the Catholic tradition.

At private dinners and at formal gatherings of cardinals, talk among church leaders of who will next lead the church has certainly already begun.

The pop star was photographed on May 8 in attendance at the conclave election of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, which is a photo that has now gone viral.

Pope Leo XIV committed to strengthening ties between the Catholic Church and Jews in a message to the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, following his election at the conclave last week, the Italian capital's Jewish community said in a statement on Tuesday.