Does the film Conclave help explain how he won? The cardinals were locked in the Sistine Chapel for just over 24 hours before electing the new pope yesterday. Some think the hit film told us what to expect.
First American pope ever is elected
"Viva il Papa": Born Robert Prevost in Chicago in 1955, Leo XIV spent 10 years as a pastor in Peru and is both a Peruvian and an American citizen. Glossary
Pontiff - Another term for the Pope. It derives from the name for the highest ranking priests in the In ancient Roman religion, each devoted to a different god.
Cardinals - Leading officials in the Roman Catholic Church. They are nominated by the Pope, and choose the next Pope together.
Ideologies - Sets of beliefs and values that people hold, often related to politics or society.
Politicking - The activity of trying to persuade or even force others to vote for a particular political party or candidate.
Conservative - Holding traditional values, and in a political context, favouring policies such as private ownership.
Liberal - Liberalism is a school of political thought that stresses individual liberty. Liberals believe that society should not try to impose values or behaviours on individuals but should be tolerant of different lifestyles. A leading exponent of liberal thought was the 19th-century English philosopher John Stuart Mill, the author of the classic work On Liberty.
Holy Spirit - In Christianity, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son.
Vatican - Where the Pope lives in Italy.
College of Cardinals - The chief ecclesiastical body of the Roman Catholic Church, electing and advising the pope and comprising all of the cardinals of the church.