On May 8, 2025, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel signaling the election of Robert Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Born in Chicago in 1955, Prevost has strong ties to Peru and was appointed Prefect for the Dicastery for Bishops by Pope Francis in 2023. The article explores the secretive process of the papal conclave, noting that 133 cardinals voted under Michelangelo's famed ceilings, and draws parallels to the 2024 film *Conclave* which some cardinals reportedly used for insight.
This article matters because it connects a major religious and historical event—the election of a new pope—to a rich tradition of art, maps, and guidebooks created since the 16th century to document and demystify the conclave. It highlights how artists and printmakers capitalized on tourist interest, and how contemporary media, including film and global news coverage, continue to fuel public fascination. The election of the first American pope also marks a significant shift in the Catholic Church's leadership.