Try GOLD - Free
Leo watched Conclave and played Wordle before vote
The Independent
|May 10, 2025
Pope viewed Ralph Fiennes film so he knew what to expect

Pope Leo spent the days leading up to the secretive vote in the Vatican that would make him the first American head of the Catholic Church watching the film Conclave so he knew what to expect, his brother has revealed.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, emerged on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on Thursday night as the 267th pontiff, following four rounds of voting during the conclave. The 69-year-old Chicago-born ally of the late Pope Francis was only elevated to cardinal in 2023, but his standing among the papabile had shot up in the weeks after his predecessor's death.

This story is from the May 10, 2025 edition of The Independent.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Independent

The Independent
WINDOW SHOPPING
Samuel Mathewson on the top men's advent calendars
4 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Badenoch ready for a scrap to free up housing market
Kemi Badenoch has vowed to abolish stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next election, as she unveiled a raft of tax cuts in a bid to claw back voters and boost the party's ratings.
4 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Man who blew £1.5m on football wagers sues Betfair
A multimillionaire “problem gambler” who blew nearly £1.5m on football wagers is suing Betfair for his money back in a landmark case, claiming it was under a duty to protect him from himself.
5 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Why collapse of China spy case led to a political row
A major prosecution against two British men accused of spying for China has collapsed in a heap of ignominy and recrimination.
2 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
ON THIS DAY
1888: The 555ft white marble Washington Monument, designed by Robert Mills, was opened.
1 min
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Will the entry-exit system deter holidays to the EU?
Q Do you think the new entry-exit system will put people off holidays in the EU? If it does, where will they go?
1 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Keep my beloved hometown out of your mouth, Fenrick
Birmingham looks quite nice now that it's finished.
3 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Root hits back over poor Ashes record down under
Joe Root believes England are ready to end their decade-long Ashes drought and “bring the urn home”, insisting his own quest for a century in Australia is a side issue.
3 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Dominoes falling into place over infamous City charges
A decision is finally expected soon in the Manchester City case, writes Miguel Delaney, with the recent settlement in the APT case possibly foreshadowing the end of the saga
4 mins
October 09, 2025

The Independent
Weakness of diplomacy does not work with Xi Jinping
Is China an enemy? To judge by the level of competence displayed in the Westminster espionage case, nobody is qualified to say.
4 mins
October 09, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size