When Pope Francis passed away on 21 April 2025, the Catholic Church entered a solemn vacant See. From the earliest hours, a profound sense of loss settled over Rome and the wider world. Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, lighting candles, praying the rosary, and whispering memories of his compassion, humility, and unwavering care for the marginalized. His sudden death felt like the closing of an era. As the College of Cardinals prepared for the conclave, the weeks that followed were marked by quiet reflection and hopeful yearning. In churches everywhere, people prayed not only for a worthy successor, but for the continuation of Francis’s spirit of mercy and renewal. The Vatican grounds themselves seemed to hold its breath, as bells tolled and the world paused in stillness. Finally, on 8 May 2025, the College of Cardinals reached a decision. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as Pope, taking the name Leo XIV. In St. Peter’s Square, the atmosphere transformed: the same crowd that had mourned now erupted in cheers of “Leone! Leone! Leone!”. On the balcony, the new Pope’s first words resonated with peace and promise: “Peace be with you all … God loves us, all of us, and evil will not prevail.”
