The 2025 conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

28% left · 55% center · 17% right of 155 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 33 stories.

Every storyoldest first

1. April 2025

   Apr 21Who is Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the acting head of the Vatican?5 articles · 5 independent sources

   1 left, 3 center, 0 right
2. Apr 21How is a new pope chosen? What to know about the papal conclave39 articles · 15 independent sources

   3 left, 8 center, 3 right
3. Apr 21– 23How does a papal conclave work? People are turning to this Oscar-winning film to find out30 articles · 23 independent sources

   2 left, 7 center, 2 right
4. Apr 22– 29Conclave to elect a new pope will start on May 7 as cardinals get to know one another87 articles · 50 independent sources

   7 left, 16 center, 6 right
5. Apr 27Conclave politics begin with the question: Continue Pope Francis' radical legacy or change course?7 articles · 7 independent sources

   1 left, 1 center, 1 right
6. Apr 28The Vatican closes the Sistine Chapel to the public and prepares for a papal conclave6 articles · 6 independent sources

   0 left, 3 center, 0 right
7. Apr 28– 29Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from participation in conclave to elect pope13 articles · 9 independent sources

   2 left, 3 center, 0 right
8. Apr 29Convicted Italian cardinal pulls out of conclave to choose new pope8 articles · 8 independent sources

   0 left, 1 center, 2 right

9. May 2025

   May 2How long was the longest conclave? Facts about the secret voting to elect a pope11 articles · 9 independent sources

   0 left, 2 center, 1 right
10. May 2Vatican firefighters install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the papal election29 articles · 17 independent sources

    1 left, 4 center, 4 right
11. May 3Stove where ballots will be burned during conclave to elect new pope is installed in Sistine Chapel12 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
12. May 3– 6Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave79 articles · 54 independent sources

    12 left, 10 center, 7 right
13. May 4– 8How a new Pope is chosen: A step-by-step look at the Papal Conclave85 articles · 49 independent sources

    8 left, 14 center, 9 right
14. May 5Ahead of conclave, Vatican staff to be sworn to secrecy under threat of excommunication8 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 1 center, 1 right
15. May 7The conclave to elect a new pope officially begins as the door to the Sistine Chapel closes7 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
16. May 7– 8No new pope elected yet after black smoke pours out of Sistine Chapel's chimney119 articles · 68 independent sources

    8 left, 24 center, 7 right
17. May 7White smoke vs. black smoke: What it means for the pope8 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 0 right
18. May 8– 9Pope Leo XIV voted in 2024 U.S. general election — here's which primaries he's voted in8 articles · 6 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
19. May 8Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel to vote on a new pope after the first ballot fails8 articles · 7 independent sources

    2 left, 3 center, 2 right
20. May 8What does "Habemus Papam" mean? New pope elected at the Vatican7 articles · 5 independent sources

    0 left, 4 center, 1 right
21. May 8– 9Catholic Americans rejoice for Pope Leo XIV36 articles · 26 independent sources

    9 left, 6 center, 7 right
22. May 8What’s in a name? The history of the papal name Leo5 articles · 4 independent sources

    0 left, 2 center, 1 right
23. May 8– 9Robert Prevost elected as first American pope and takes the name Leo XIV149 articles · 69 independent sources

    15 left, 22 center, 11 right
24. May 9Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass after historic election as Pope Francis' successor42 articles · 29 independent sources

    3 left, 12 center, 3 right
25. May 9Leo XIV's brother recalls feeling of 'disbelief' over his sibling becoming pope9 articles · 9 independent sources

    2 left, 2 center, 1 right
26. May 10Why Pope Leo chose his name: AI, workers' rights, new Industrial Revolution10 articles · 6 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 2 right
27. May 10– 11Pope Leo XIV lays out vision of papacy, identifies AI as main challenge for humanity40 articles · 25 independent sources

    1 left, 6 center, 1 right
28. May 14Pope Leo XIV is back on social media, with a message of peace14 articles · 7 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 1 right
29. May 15‘Life-altering event:’ Pope Leo XIV’s brother describes whirlwind after first American pope elected5 articles · 3 independent sources

    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
30. May 18Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity so Catholic Church becomes sign of peace in world8 articles · 7 independent sources

    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
31. May 18Pope Leo XIV calls for unity and love in inaugural Mass19 articles · 13 independent sources

    3 left, 6 center, 2 right
32. May 25Can Pope Leo XIV remain a U.S. citizen now that he's a foreign head of state?15 articles · 8 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
33. May 25– 26Pope Leo XIV declares ‘I am Roman!’ as he completes formalities to become bishop of Rome12 articles · 10 independent sources

    0 left, 3 center, 0 right