On May 8, the Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected to be the new Pope.

Born in Chicago Illinois, Pope Leo XIV was named the first American Pope. Prevost, 69, spent most of his career as a missionary in South America. He holds a dual citizenship in the United States and Peru.

To elect a new Pope, they gather a variety of Cardinals, and the ones under 80 can vote. The Cardinals that are able to vote enter the Sistine Chapel and follow a very detailed procedure for the casting of new ballots. They send out the ballots once during the first day, and then twice a day, until a new Pope is selected. To be chosen as a Pope, you must be a bishop first. When all of the ballots have been cast, the scrutineer shakes them up, and puts them into a new urn. They call out the names on each ballot, and keep a tally of who has the most votes.

When they elect a new Pope, the ballots are then burned immediately. Traditionally they burn the ballots dry or with chemicals to produce the white smoke, when a Pope is elected.

If no Pope has been elected yet, they use damp straws or other chemicals to produce black smoke. Once a new Pope has been elected, they get to choose their name, and receive the obedience of the Cardinals. Senior Cardinal Deacon will then announce the name of the new Pope. He will also give blessing to the city, the people, and the church, and like that, the new Pope is elected!

sources:

https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/new-pope-conclave-day-two-05-08-25

https://bostoncatholic.org/election-of-a-new-pope