The next pope has been elected as Cardinal Robert Prevost from the United States, who has taken the papal name Leo XIV. He is the first American pope in history. This was announced following the conclave held after the death of Pope Francis

. Before the election, several candidates were considered frontrunners, including:

• Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, seen as a leading candidate and a continuity figure for Pope Francis' agenda

• Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, regarded as a progressive contender with strong support among reform-minded cardinals

• Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, considered a continuity candidate close to Pope Francis and experienced in diplomacy and social issues

• Cardinal Peter Erdo, seen as a traditionalist but respected across factions, potentially a unifying figure

• Cardinal Mario Grech and others were also mentioned as possible compromise candidates

However, the conclave ultimately chose Cardinal Robert Prevost, marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church with the first American pope, Leo XIV