'It was a surprise': Priest explains how cardinals elected Pope Leo XIV
Photo: Pope Leo XIV (Getty Images)
The election of Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope came as a surprise. His name was not among the frontrunners, Roman Catholic priest and director of Radio Mariia, Oleksii Samsonov, said this in a commentary to RBC-Ukraine.
He noted that recent conclaves have not lasted long — only 2–3 days. This one was no exception.
The priest suggested that during the first vote, the cardinals saw how many votes each candidate received. After that, they held discussions, made a decision, prayed, and elected the new Pope.
"This new Pope is a surprise, it’s unexpected — other names had been mentioned before. But in the Church, the Holy Spirit can bring such surprises. We see that the Pope is young, energetic, in good shape, so now we await how he will lead his pontificate," he emphasized.
New Pope
Today, May 8, on the second day of the conclave, a new Pope was elected. The cardinals supported the candidacy of American Robert Francis Prevost.
Thus, Robert Prevost has become the first Pope in history from the United States. His papal name will be Leo XIV.
The new pontiff has already addressed the faithful. He wished peace to everyone and called on all people to show love and "build bridges."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already congratulated the new Pope, wishing him longevity, health, and prosperity.
