SINGAPORE – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore said it rejoices at the election of the new pope, and called on Catholics to pray for the newly elected pontiff.
White smoke billowed out of a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel in the early hours of May 9 (Singapore time), signifying that a new pope had been elected on the second day of the balloting process known as the conclave.
Around an hour later, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost made his first appearance as Pope Leo XIV on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, greeted by crowds waiting to see the new leader of the 1.4 billion-strong Roman Catholic Church.
In a statement on May 9, Singapore’s archdiocese said “Habemus Papam!” as it gave thanks to God for the blessing of a new “Vicar of Christ”. The Latin phrase means “We have a pope”.
“On Thursday, May 8, at 6.06pm Rome time, the 133 cardinal electors chose the 267th Pope,” said the archdiocese.
“We rejoice at the election of Pope Leo XIV as the successor of Saint Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.”
It added: “The Roman Catholic Archdiocese unites with the universal church in praying for the Holy Father as he begins his apostolic ministry.”
Pope Leo XIV is the first American pontiff, and the 69-year-old is known for his quiet demeanour and support for the late Pope Francis.
“La pace sia con tutti voi! (Peace be with you!)” – a phrase often used by Catholics during mass – were the pontiff’s first words to the thousands of faithful who had gathered in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican or were watching the broadcast proceedings elsewhere.
Pope Leo XIV was ordained as a priest at the age of 26 in 1982, and was appointed a cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2023.
Half of his life as an ordained member of the Church was spent in northern Peru, where he headed a seminary in Trujillo and was the pastor of a suburban parish between 1988 and 1998. He served as the bishop in Chiclayo between 2015 and 2023, and received Peruvian citizenship.
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