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First American Pope Elected. Aired 1-1:30p ET
Aired May 08, 2025 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:00:00]
KATIE PREJEAN MCGRADY, CNN VATICAN ANALYST: Francis was very witty. He was very funny. He was known for being quick. But who knows? Maybe it was kind of a prescient who -- perhaps it might be a John XXIV. We have had the most Johns.
John XXIII was thought to be, oh, he will be a little gap stop pope. And then he called Vatican II. So who knows what's going to happen. But Francis did make a joke about it. And as we're experiencing all this joy, a new pope any minute now, we still also remember the incredible ministry of the last pope who is just down the street at Saint Mary Major.
I think we have to look for a few things, his name. What does he do first? Where does he travel first? What kind of pectoral cross will he wear? And was Francis right? Will it be John XXIV?
KASIE HUNT, CNN HOST: So, Father Beck, I know as we're thinking about what's actually happening right now, what the pope is doing, perhaps in the Room of Tears, putting on those vestments, you actually know maybe what some of the issues may be in terms of trying and fitting and getting that on at this moment?
REV. EDWARD BECK, CNN RELIGION CONTRIBUTOR: Well, one of the funnier stories we would -- Katie just mentioned XXIII. As we remember, he was rather rotund.
And even though they had three different sizes, none of them fit him. So they had to actually split the white soutane up the back and they had to jury-rig it with buttons before he could come out. So that's what kind of took a little longer.
So I was just thinking of someone like Cardinal Aveline from Marseille, who is kind of said to be the XXIII, the next one, because he kind of looks like him and he's kind of rotund. I mean, maybe the soutane isn't fitting. You never know what's taking so long. Or maybe this pope is so emotional, he's trying to get himself together.
And wouldn't that be something, that he's so taken by what has happened that he really is not ready yet? So who knows what's happening.
HUNT: Yes.
BECK: But there are many stories for previous popes that are -- what have happened. And it'd be interesting to see if you get a story about why it took longer this time.
HUNT: Christopher, the point -- as Father Beck just pointed out, it could be something as mundane as having to split the garments up the back.
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Yes.
HUNT: Or it could be something more profound, meditation.
LAMB: Absolutely.
This election is always a mixture between the very human and then, of course, the spiritual and the divine, and the power of God and the ambition of men. That human and divine mix runs throughout this process. So, yes, it could be anything from something very practical or something more personal that he wants to do before appearing on the balcony.
HUNT: And there is, Kim, I think about when -- sometimes when people choose a name for a child, I remember someone saying to me they chose a name like John because they didn't want expectations on their child.
They wanted the child to be able to fill the name in any way. And that was why they chose a name.
(CHEERING)
HUNT: Oh. Just every time there's a cheer...
LAMB: No.
(LAUGHTER)
HUNT: And perhaps John happens to be the most common name for a pope, but we don't know what is going through this pope's mind. Does he want to send a signal with it or a signal that it is something that he could fill in many ways, as opposed to something specific like Francis?
KIM DANIELS, INITIATIVE ON CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT AND PUBLIC LIFE DIRECTOR, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: It could be something very personal, right?
So, Francis, for instance, a man of the poor, a man of peace, a man for the environment, all things that Pope Francis had as central to his priorities in his heart. But this could be something very personal to the man who's going to walk out on that balcony. Maybe he's part of a religious order, and it's something -- someone connected to that order.
Maybe it's someone who's important in their home country. There could be all sorts of reasons.
HUNT: And does that affect possibly what someone would wear, what they would -- the garments that they would put on? LAMB: Well, Francis, of course, when he appeared in the balcony did not put on the red mozzetta, which popes in the past had. And he wanted to adopt a more simple style.
I don't know. We will have to see what happens, but I imagine that that's the next pope will take note of what Francis did and -- but it'll be a statement if he doesn't, of course. If he does decide to wear something a bit more elaborate, that would, of course, be a bit of a statement about where this pope wants to go.
HUNT: Yes.
And, Kim, because we have been learning -- Ben Wedeman did a fascinating report on the ring that the pope will wear, and Pope Francis again issuing the formality and anything gaudy or full of gold, something very simple...
DANIELS: Right.
HUNT: But that other popes did go with more of the pomp and the majesty.
DANIELS: And there's a reason for that too, right? There are all sorts of reasons that you might believe it's a time to emphasize or connect with tradition in a certain kind of way.
So, the Catholic Church is a church of symbols. It's a church of physicality of smells and bells. And everything you're seeing has some sort of meaning behind it tonight. One thing I want to note are all the flags out in the square and what a global church this is, right, flags from all around the world, 1.4 billion people, the most multicultural, multilingual institution in the world.
[13:05:06]
And you're seeing it in the square behind us.
HUNT: And the most diverse group of cardinals in the history of the church just made this decision.
LAMB: Absolutely, and so those cardinals coming from 70 countries all across the world, all tasked with voting for the successor of St. Peter.
They all were there in the Sistine Chapel. They all had to write down the name of the cardinal that they wanted to be elected as pope. And they have processed up. It was a very much a kind of spiritual moment, a spiritual -- almost like a liturgy really inside the Sistine Chapel.
HUNT: Yes.
LAMB: And we have now seen that they have come to a decision in what is normal time for the last two conclaves.
By the standard of the last two conclaves, this is about the normal time you would expect them to come to a decision. HUNT: Yes. Yes.
And, again, we have been waiting longer than we thought we would need to for the pope. I just want to be clear about one thing. When the pope is elected, between that time and when the pope comes out, obviously, there's the vestments, and there's the prayer, and there's the -- but the pope, when they announced with the smoke...
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: ... would have formally accepted?
LAMB: He will have accepted by that time.
HUNT: By that time.
LAMB: Yes. Yes. That's right.
HUNT: So there -- so he accepts.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: Then they put the smoke out, then the bells.
LAMB: That's right. Yes. That's right. That has to be agreed.
You do have, as a potential pope, the freedom to say no.
HUNT: Has anyone ever done it that we know of?
LAMB: Well, I mean, I think it doesn't get to the point where you're asked formally.
HUNT: Yes.
LAMB: But what can happen is, you say in advance of time, I can't do this so they won't try and elect you.
But you do have that freedom. And he does have to accept. He has to be willing to take up the office. And so, yes, I mean, now we're just waiting to see what happens.
I do remember, when Francis was -- appeared on the balcony, there was quite a long delay. And it was apparently because the cardinals were trying to tell Benedict XVI, the retired pope, who had been chosen. And Benedict XVI was watching the TV and didn't hear the phone.
(LAUGHTER)
LAMB: So the phone was ringing off the hook, apparently.
HUNT: So they were waiting to tell him, so that for the first time somebody would know before the world found out.
LAMB: Yes. Yes, exactly. In that case, because it was a retired pope -- he was the retired pope... HUNT: Yes.
LAMB: ... first pope in hundreds of years to retire, they felt that it was right that he should know ahead of time. And then, allegedly, they couldn't get through to him. That was the delay.
But we have had up almost an hour now between white smoke and the much-anticipated appearance of the cardinal to announce the news.
HUNT: We have. And everyone's waiting patiently.
Now I would say the crowd -- this square is now full to capacity, whatever we define capacity as. Last night, it was 45,000. I feel comfortable, without any formal numbers, looking, saying that there is more -- there are more people than that now.
LAMB: Yes. Yes.
HUNT: OK? I'm just going to come out and say that is clear to me. We don't have formal numbers, though.
DANIELS: And I will say that there was a bottleneck at the security getting in here. So to the extent it took a little while to fill up, it was because people were streaming in, but they were stopped just because they had to get through and clear their bags.
It's now really full, body to body, and a lot of energy out there.
HUNT: It is body to body, and body to body, though, in a -- even after waiting an hour, Christopher.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: Looking out, it is -- it is excited, but also I'm looking for the word, maybe serene.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: I mean, people are calm.
LAMB: Yes.
And I think it's a moment...
DANIELS: I think it's joyful.
LAMB: It's a moment of joy. And I think it's obviously a historic moment.
HUNT: Yes.
LAMB: If you're visiting Rome, it's not very often you get to see the announcement of a new pope.
So I'm sure that anyone who is following the news and heard that there was white smoke will be rushing to the square to witness this. HUNT: Right. I mean, they're not agitated or impatient.
LAMB: No.
HUNT: You don't feel that.
DANIELS: It's kind of an example of the joy of the Gospel. This is this famous phrase of Pope Francis.
And I also want to say, we always talk about the people of God. When I look out at that crowd, I see women religious. I see young people, old people, retired cardinals. I saw Cardinal Sean O'Malley from Boston, everybody mixed together all waiting.
I mean, it's a real sign of who we are, a people of God all walking together.
HUNT: Cardinal O'Malley of Boston did give an interview earlier today.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: He was too old to vote, but he did give an interview. And there has been talk this time that we have not heard in a long time of the possibility of an American pope, even though all I feel like we have heard for the past hour is that it's probably an Italian.
LAMB: Yes. We were told that that possibility of an American pope was being considered by some.
But I think, given the speed with which this white smoke has appeared, it is possible that it's an Italian.
[13:10:06]
HUNT: It may not bode well for the Americans.
LAMB: No, it may not. Let's see.
HUNT: Cardinal Prevost from Chicago had been seen as a front-runner.
Let's go to David Culver down in the crowd -- David.
DAVID CULVER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Erin.
Yes, I have got Sonia (ph) and Angela from London.
And you said, just as you stepped on to St. Peter's Square, suddenly, the smoke came up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we were here about 10 minutes before the smoke, literally 10 minutes.
CULVER: And how do you describe right now this in-between suspense and waiting?
Because, obviously, we know we have a pope. We just don't know who he is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think just everybody's waiting in anticipation for the thrill and the excitement and the joy of seeing him step through the curtains.
CULVER: You said you don't think we're prepared for what's about to happen in this setting right here down on the ground, because the emotions are about to shift.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I think, in the most unreligious way, this crowd is going to go crazy.
(LAUGHTER)
CULVER: Are you ready for it? Are you excited?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's -- I just got goose bumps from head to toe. And I'm not religious at all. So it's just overwhelming, actually, to experience something like this. And I don't think it will ever happen again in a lifetime.
We're really privileged.
CULVER: And not even being religious, but feeling something?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I'm still...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we just did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honestly, goose bumps still. It's just amazing just being here. So, it does. It feels like an honor to experience something like this, and just pure serendipity on our part.
CULVER: When you were looking around in that moment, because, obviously, I felt the crush and the rhythm of the crowd moving us towards -- were you feeling that at the same time?
And what faces were you seeing? What reactions were you taking in?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, for me, I was just in shock, if I'm honest, in awe, and it's still like that. Just the suspense of waiting is amazing.
CULVER: Just timed this trip by chance.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Literally. And we came out for a walk, and we thought, why don't we walk to the square? Because you never know. You might see a little bit of smoke. You never know, right?
(LAUGHTER)
CULVER: And it's white. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then we will have a bit of pasta after and
have a lovely evening.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we literally got here, and we were like (INAUDIBLE) fabulous.
(LAUGHTER)
CULVER: And now you will be staying here through the evening, I assume?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no. We're literally still going to go for the pasta.
(LAUGHTER)
CULVER: You're still going to get your pasta.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. So we're going to say hi to the pope when he pops his head out and then we go for another stroll.
CULVER: You will get to see him as he comes out and you will enjoy your dinner.
(CROSSTALK)
CULVER: Angela, thank you for spending time with us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
CULVER: This is an amazing moment to be here, right? Appreciate your time.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
CULVER: Erin.
HUNT: All right, David.
And so the pope comes out any moment. It's now been over an hour.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: So we had anticipated seeing him. We haven't yet.
Tens of thousands, probably more than 50,000, 60,000 people are waiting. Then what happens? I mean, who -- where does he sleep tonight? What happens?
LAMB: Yes. Well, those are very good questions, because what we do know is, he's going to come out on the balcony and say a few words. It's then tradition that he will have a meal with his fellow cardinals.
(CHEERING)
LAMB: I think we're going to see it now.
HUNT: All right.
(CHEERING)
CARDINAL DOMINIQUE MAMBERTI, PROTODEACON (through translator): I announce to you a great joy.
(CHEERING)
MAMBERTI: We have a pope.
(CHEERING)
MAMBERTI (through translator): The most eminent and reverent Robert Francis Prevost, Cardinal Prevost.
LAMB: The first American pope has been elected, Cardinal Prevost.
MAMBERTI (through translator): ... who has chosen the name...
(CROSSTALK)
LAMB: Cardinal Prevost, the first American pope in history, Chicago- born, has been elected as the 267th successor of St. Peter.
Cardinal Prevost was the leader of the Vatican's office for the Dicastery of Bishops, the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops. He is someone who spent many years as bishop in Peru, as a missionary in -- of Peru. He was bishop of Chiclayo in Peru.
[13:15:02]
He was the leader of the Augustinian Order, which is a worldwide religious order. He is known as an experienced and wise leader who can bring together people from different points of view.
I can see there Cardinal Cupich from Chicago, who looks quite happy with the news. This is really an extraordinary moment.
HUNT: This is an extraordinary moment. And, of course, I sit here as an American. Whatever it would have been, I think you can't but -- be but moved to tears. But this is stunning. This is stunning.
LAMB: Leo the -- Leo XIV.
HUNT: Leo XIV.
(CROSSTALK) LAMB: Now, that's significant.
Pope Leo XIII, a pope of Catholic social teaching, of Catholic social doctrine, a pope who stood up for workers, a pope on the side of the poor. And Cardinal Prevost, Pope Leo XIV, I should say, has chosen that name. That is a big statement. That is really an extraordinary, extraordinary moment.
We all thought -- people were thinking it was going to be an Italian.
HUNT: Yes.
LAMB: We thought they were the front-runner.
But, as we said, as I reported, an American was not ruled out. They were looking at an American.
HUNT: And you were saying this was possible. It was only today, when it moved as fast as it moved, that everyone said, well, it must be an Italian.
But let's just say this again. Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is an American, currently cardinal from Chicago, and is now the first American pope in history.
LAMB: This is...
HUNT: So history has been made today.
LAMB: This is stunning, absolutely stunning.
DANIELS: I just have to say, as an American Catholic, I think this is a remarkable moment for our church, right?
We were in mission territory until the beginning of the 20th century. And now there is a pope who is an American. So, Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is the most global of American popes in so many ways.
LAMB: Yes.
DANIELS: He's lived his adult life in Peru. He left as a missionary to go to Peru as a young man. He has a missionary heart. He speaks numerous languages.
LAMB: Yes.
DANIELS: It's just a remarkable choice for a remarkable moment and a shift and a change, right, a continuation of Francis, for sure.
HUNT: Yes, for continuation of Francis and close to Francis.
LAMB: Absolutely, a man who will continue with the reforms of Pope Francis. He's not going to be a carbon copy of Francis, a different personality, but someone who is going to build on those reforms, perhaps try to institutionalize the reforms that the pope started.
And this is really stunning.
DANIELS: It's just so stunning.
And I have to say this. It's what -- it's doing is taking -- often you see a sort of prophetic pope like Francis, and then one that institutionalizes his changes. That's what we're seeing here today.
LAMB: Yes. This is what the -- the cardinals have voted for continuity with Francis, not a photocopy of Francis...
DANIELS: No.
LAMB: ... but someone who can build on the reforms, embed them, institutionalize them.
He has global experience as the leader of the Augustinian Order. He speaks many languages. He's renowned as someone who can bring people together, who can coordinate people, who can bring together different types of views. And I think he's very much in that line of Francis when it comes to the synodal reforms that you know about.
DANIELS: Absolutely. He's a commit -- commitment to Catholic social teaching with the name Leo XIV, which is so important...
HUNT: Yes.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: And...
DANIELS: ... and a commitment to the synod. He is committed to the synod and this global path.
HUNT: And a stunning moment in history, something -- you look at the world that has been suffering through political polarization, through struggles. We have heard Francis talk about authoritarianism and dictatorship, and now making history with the first American pope.
LAMB: Incredible, absolutely incredible, Pope Leo XIV, in the line of Pope Leo XIII, who wrote the famous social justice encyclical "Rerum Novarum," very much a pope on the side of the workers, on the side of the poor, a big statement to have the first American pope making that very strong statement with his name.
HUNT: And he will speak. He will speak to these -- to this crowd.
DANIELS: We should expect him to speak soon. And, again, I think that it's continuity and change. It's spiritual renewal and structural reform. This is putting those Francis reforms that he began into place, but also bringing that global experience.
It's just a remarkable moment.
LAMB: Absolutely remarkable.
I don't want to speak unless he comes out. (LAUGHTER)
HUNT: I know. I'm watch -- we're all watching as he's going to walk right out in the center any second here.
LAMB: But I think his candidacy was taken seriously because he is an American churchman who has lived outside of the U.S. for a long period of time. He's spent so much time in Latin America. He was a bishop in Peru.
That, I think, is crucial in his -- this decision.
(CROSSTALK)
DANIELS: And I also think that he has this global experience, so he understands the position of America in the world. Six percent of the world's Catholics live in America.
[13:20:00]
Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, has lived in Peru, has engaged all over the world. He understands our place. He comes from a place of humility, but he brings American talents...
HUNT: Yes.
DANIELS: ... managerial skill...
LAMB: Yes.
DANIELS: ... to the...
HUNT: Growing up as a Catholic, as I did and you did, I never would have imagined. I never would have imagined such a moment.
LAMB: Oh.
HUNT: I am sure that so many in the United States are feeling that right now.
LAMB: Yes.
HUNT: It is shocking, even though his name had been out there.
LAMB: It is an amazing moment.
And there are -- Pope Leo XIV will speak English quite well. There aren't many popes that -- being able to speak English. He will be able to communicate directly with the English-speaking world and, of course, directly with American Catholics.
DANIELS: And can I just say that in -- Pope Leo XIII was in response to the Industrial Revolution. We are really at a time of change now with social media, with the digital revolution.
He is an English speaker, which allows him to engage around the world, but so many other languages as well. I think it is a call to the United States to humble service for the poor and those in need. That is what this is.
HUNT: You have seen in the United States also over years -- and, Father Beck, you have seen this as well -- in many ways, a struggle on priest recruitment and struggles that the church had faced in the United States.
And this could dramatically change that and dramatically energize the entire Catholic population in the United States.
BECK: It really could, Erin.
And what I am amazed at is, believe it or not, I know and have met this man. We studied together at Catholic Theological Union. He was there. My first year was his last year. He was with the Augustinian community. And minutes before he got elected, I got a text from our Scripture teacher, Sister Dianne Bergant.
And she says: "What a thrill. Can you imagine? Do you know Prevost? Remember, he was at CTU when we were there? Open the door."
So this came in at 12:53 our time. And she mentions his name. And, of course, I know other Augustinians who were there at the time who have been texting and saying, well, wouldn't it be interesting if it is Robert, if it is Bob? And I thought, well, yes, he's a great guy, very quiet, very nice, but probably not an American.
And here he is. I can't believe it. It's a great moment for Catholic Theological Union, where we both studied, for the Augustinian community, and for the world, because I think he will be wonderful.
HUNT: Yes.
BECK: He was a missionary for all of those years. And he's a very humble and a very quiet man, but I think he has a real intellect and a real vision for the church.
HUNT: Father Beck, did you ever think that you would be alive to see an American pope?
BECK: I did not, and not one that I actually had met. I just -- no, I didn't think I'd be alive to see an American pope.
It's been so long that we have never had it, and everybody said that America is too centralized and it's too strong, it's too powerful. Why would we give them any more power, any more attention? As you know, there's an anti-Americanism, especially now, throughout the world. And so we thought, with that, probably that's going to work against having an American pope.
But, in fact, the quality of this man and the spirituality of this man and the history of who he is seemed to surmount all of that. That didn't matter. What they chose and who they chose was the man they think that's...
HUNT: And here...
BECK: Here he is.
(CHEERING)
HUNT: Let's watch Leo XIV coming out.
(CHEERING)
(MUSIC)
[13:25:00]
(CHEERING)
(CHANTING)
(CHEERING)
POPE LEO XIV, LEADER OF CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Peace be with you all.
(CHEERING)
POPE LEO XIV (through translator): Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greetings of the resurrected Christ, the good shepherd who has gave up -- given up his life for God.
And I should also like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts and your families. And to all those people, wherever they are, all peoples throughout the world, peace be with you.
(CHEERING)
(CHANTING)
POPE LEO XIV (through translator): This is the peace of the resurrected Christ, a humble and perseverant peace which comes from God, God, who loves us all unconditionally.
Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome.
(APPLAUSE)
POPE LEO XIV (through translator): The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that morning of Easter.
Allow me to follow up on that blessing. God loves us. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and amongst ourselves, let us go forward.
We are the disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him, like the bridge to God and his love. Help us and all others to build bridges with dialogue, with meeting, to be one common people living always in peace.
