American Robert Francis Prevost is elected pope, AFP reported. He is the first American pope to be elected to the Vatican. He is taking the name Leo XIV.
Pope Leo, appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica around 70 minutes after white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signifying the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
Earlier, reports had said that despite the Vatican바카라s longstanding opposition to the idea of a pope from the US because of the country바카라s superpower status and secular global influence, the moderate, Chicago-born Prevost was the one to watch.
Created a cardinal by Francis in 2023, the former leader of the Augustinian order was also appointed by the late pope to the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, which oversees the selection of new bishops from around the world.
Leo becomes the 267th Catholic pope after the death last month of Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American pope and had led the Church for 12 years and widely sought to open the staid institution up to the modern world.
Those senior roles, combined with the fact that he has significant missionary experience in Peru, having served as bishop of the northern city of Chiclayo, may go some way to redeeming him in the eyes of those who would not usually countenance the idea of an American pope.
Trump Congratulates
US President Donald Trump congratulated the Pope.
"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment," posts US President Donald Trump," on Truth Social.
The Pope made his first public appearance, stepping onto the balcony of St. Peter바카라s Basilica shortly after white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel 바카라 the traditional signal that a new pope has been elected.
As Prevost emerged, tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter바카라s Square erupted into cheers. Many applauded and some wept as the new pontiff offered his first blessing. The emotional moment followed hours of anticipation, with people from around the world watching the Vatican chimney for the telltale smoke.
