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Vatican City

New pope calls for Christian witness in the world 

Where Christians are “mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied” is where the church’s “missionary outreach is most desperately needed,” Pope Leo XIV said in his first homily as leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. 

• Chicago native Cardinal Prevost elected pope, takes name Leo XIV

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published May 8, 2025

  Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, was elected the 267th pope May 8 and took the name Pope Leo XIV.

• White smoke from Rome

  

  Published May 8, 2025

  White smoke appeared at the Vatican as of 12:09 p.m. Eastern Time, signifying the election of a new pope. Find coverage of the new pope at www.georgiabulletin.org in the coming days. 

• As conclave nears, all but four cardinal electors are in Rome

  

  By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service
  Published May 2, 2025

  All but four of the 135 cardinals who are eligible to enter the conclave May 7 to vote for a new pope had arrived in Rome by May 2, according to the Vatican press office.