Cardinal Prevost garnered over 75% of votes in conclave, say Vatican sources

VATICAN CITY – In the balloting to choose the next pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost secured 105 of 133 votes to become the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican sources said on May 11.

Taking the name Leo XIV, the first American-born Pope led from the second round of voting and ultimately secured the required two-thirds majority, the sources said.

The conclave took place for two days through May 8 at the Sistine Chapel to choose the successor to Pope Francis, who died in April.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy, a close confidante of the previous pope, and Cardinal Peter Erdo of Hungary, a known conservative, were considered leading candidates for the papacy before Cardinal Prevost was elected in the fourth ballot on the second day.

Cardinal Erdo was initially in the lead, followed by Cardinal Parolin, then Cardinal Prevost, with each taking about 25 to 30 votes, leaving only a marginal difference, according to the sources.

But in the second and subsequent rounds, votes shifted to Cardinal Prevost, who took the lead as the gap widened between him and Cardinal Parolin. By the fourth round, Cardinal Prevost had secured the two-thirds majority needed for election.

Cardinal Parolin, who has served as the Vatican’s Secretary of State, a title equivalent to prime minister, had been considered the most likely to be elected among Italian media outlets.

But Cardinal Parolin had a focus on improving relations with China and was widely considered to be too pro-Chinese.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi of Italy, who also had close ties to the former pope, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana were also mentioned as strong candidates, but according to the sources, received almost no votes.

In addition to the four ballots cast during the two-day conclave, another ballot was held, but the votes were “invalidated” due to a calculation error and not opened. KYODO NEWS