In a historic moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the United States has been elected pope.
He became the first American to hold the papacy. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The announcement came on Thursday evening after white smoke flowed out from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signalling that the College of Cardinals had decided on the second day of the conclave.
Moments later, the traditional declaration “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”) was made from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica to a cheering crowd in St Peter’s Square.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Pope Leo XIV previously served as Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops and spent years in pastoral ministry in Peru, where he also became a naturalised citizen.
He was appointed bishop of Chiclayo in 2001 and later became Prior General of the Augustinian Order before being elevated to cardinal by Pope Francis.
His election signals a historic shift in the Church’s leadership. Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue many of the reforms begun under Pope Francis, with a focus on pastoral care, inclusion, and addressing modern social challenges.
This is the third consecutive papal election to conclude on the second day of voting, following the precedents set by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.
