Rome, 8 May 2025 – “A moment of grace for the universal Church”. With these words the Grand Master of the Sovereign Order of Malta, Fra’ John T. Dunlap, welcomes the election of Pope Leo XIV, 267th Pope and Bishop of Rome. The white smoke arrived at the 4th vote, in which the cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69 years old, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo (Peru), ascends to the papal throne. The habemus papam was pronounced by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti. Looking out of the Loggia of Benedictions, Pope Leo XIV called for “an unarmed and disarming peace” and spoke of “a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and welcomes everyone with open arms,” as well as “a synodal Church that walks, that seeks to be close to those most in need and to those who suffer.”

The Grand Master declared: “We welcome with reverent gratitude the election of the new Holy Father, Successor of Peter and universal leader of the Catholic Church. In this moment of grace for the entire community of the faithful, I wish to express, on behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta, our filial devotion and our full adherence to His Magisterium. We are particularly honoured to have welcomed Him among the members of the Order of Malta as a cardinal, and we see this as a sign of a spiritual and institutional bond which unites us even more deeply to His person. We pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate His pontificate and give Him strength and wisdom in the exercise of His high ministry. Our Order, faithful to its religious vocation and humanitarian mission, from this moment assures the Holy Father of its constant support in defending human dignity, in serving the poor and promoting peace.”

The first Pontiff from the United States, Pope Robert Francis Prevost was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago and entered the Order of Saint Augustine in 1977. An expert on social and cultural issues, he gained a deep understanding of the Church in Latin America. Created cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 30 September 2023, Pope Leo XIV repeatedly recalled his predecessor in the words he spoke from the Loggia of Benedictions.