Habemus Papam: We have a Pope!

It was wonderful to hear that white smoke was billowing from the Sistine Capel chimney yesterday afternoon!  We welcome our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV - the first American Pope!  On this momentous occasion, I thank you for sharing the wonderful news with your school communities.

Archbishop Bernard has issued the following beautiful statement:

"I welcome the wonderful news of the election of Cardinal Robert Prevost as our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.  As he prepared to give us his first blessing as Pope in St Peter’s Square he also gave us a message of joyful encouragement, calling us to be bridge-builders who are the light of Christ in the world.  As the first Pope from the United States of America he also remembered the people of Chiclayo in Peru where he had served as bishop until 2023.

I have just spent the last few days at Buckfast Abbey with all the Bishops of England and Wales as we prayed for the Cardinals in Conclave and as we waited to hear whom the Holy Spirit would identify as the Successor of Peter.  It will be a great joy to serve the Church’s mission inspired by the guidance of Pope Leo. All the lay faithful, the Religious and clergy of our Archdiocese are praying for our new Holy Father that he may serve the Church for many years and be richly blessed in his apostolate.

Let us pray for our new Holy Father. Habemus Papam: We have a Pope!"

For a biography of our new Pope, please visit:

Welcome to our new Pope, Leo XIV | Birmingham Diocesan Trust