Here’s How the News Networks Covered the Election of Pope Leo XIV

White smoke emerged from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday afternoon, indicating that a new Pope had been elected.

Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago will become Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff.

Breaking: The new pope is revealed as Robert Prevost of the US, the first American pontiff in history. He’ll be known as Pope Leo XIV.

Live updates https://t.co/lh0DebwnVq pic.twitter.com/dqKOeV62lL

— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) May 8, 2025

The various news outlets have provided continuous coverage of the papal Conclave since it started on Wednesday. The election process produced two periods of black smoke—indicating that no winner had emerged—with Prevost being selected on the third round vote.

Pope Leo succeeded Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, after serving as head of the Catholic Church for over eight years. The news networks provided extensive coverage Francis’ funeral, which took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025.

Here is how the various networks covered the Conclave and the election of Pope Leo XIV. (All times Eastern)

ABC News

ABC World News Tonight’s David Muir has been anchoring live from the Vatican since Wednesday, joined by anchor Linsey Davis, chief international correspondent James Longman, senior national correspondent Terry Moran, foreign correspondent Maggie Rulli, reporters Ines de La Cuetara and Patrick Revell, WABC-TV’s Joe Torres, WLS-TV’s Liz Nagy, and contributors Father Jim Martin, Father John Wauck, and Helen Alvaré. ABC News broke in with a special report at 12:08:25 p.m. and stayed on until 2 p.m., all the way through the first Papal address. 

CBS News

Norah O’Donnell, Tony Dokoupil, Maurice DuBois, Seth Doane, and Chris Livesay have been offering live reports from Rome. Additional insights have been provided by Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher, Father Anthony Figueiredo, and John Allen, editor of Crux. The network broke in with a special report at 12:07:53 when white smoke was seen at the Sistine Chapel.

CNN

Erin Burnett has been co-anchoring live coverage from Rome, joined by CNN Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb. CNN Senior International correspondent Ben Wedeman and senior national correspondent David Culver have been reporting live from the crowds gathered at St. Peter’s Square. CNN en Español’s Jose Levy, Rafael Romo, and journalist Barbie Nadeau are also in Rome reporting across the network’s platforms.

Fox News

Senior correspondent Benjamin Hall has been anchoring live coverage with reporting from chief religion correspondent Lauren Green, correspondent Alex Hogan, and contributor Jonathan Morris. Additionally, FOX News Radio reporter Jonathan Savage has been reporting live from Rome.

MSNBC

MSNBC has maintained a YouTube livestream of the Vatican chimney for the duration of the Conclave. Additionally, anchor Chris Jansing provided continuous coverage for the network. 

NBC News

NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt has been on the ground since Tuesday, joined by Anne Thompson, Molly Hunter, and NBC News senior Vatican analyst George Weigel. Also joining in for NBC News coverage are Kathleen Sprows Cummings, NBC News Contributor and Notre Dame Professor of American Studies, Christopher White, National Catholic Reporter Vatican Correspondent, Bishop Robert Barron, Father John Bartunek, and Joe Donnelly, former senator and former ambassador to the Holy See. Holt anchored a special report at 12:09 p.m. on NBC News with news of Pope Leo’s ascension.

NewsNation

National correspondent Robert Sherman has been reporting live from St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, with additional contributions from EWTN reporter Colm Flynn, Ines San Martin of Pontifical Mission Societies, and Bishop David O’Connell of Catholic University. 

Scripps News

Correspondent Joe St. George has been in Rome providing live updates and content throughout the Conclave. Correspondent Maya Rodriguez offered reports from the National Basilica in Washington, D.C., and Alex Miller was stationed at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Scripps News will air an hourlong special on the new Pope beginning at 5 p.m. tonight.

Spectrum News

Spectrum News+ coverage was hosted by anchors Josh Robin and Bree Driscoll, alongside Spectrum News D.C. bureau reporter Kevin Frey. Coverage also included analysis and context from University of Scranton vice president of Mission and Ministry Daniel Cosacchi, and Reverand Patrick Flanagan, C.M., associate professor at St. John’s University. Spectrum Noticias’ coverage was hosted by anchor Patsi Arias, alongside reporter Will Mendoza as well as analysts Father Hernan Paredes and Father Cesar Jaramillo, who was live from the Vatican.

Noticias Telemundo

Julio Vaqueiro has been anchoring special coverage from Vatican City, joined by Damià Bonmatí.  Conclave coverage is airing on the Telemundo network and streaming on Noticias Telemundo Ahora.