Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new pope, becoming the first pontiff from the United States. He has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV.
The 69-year-old new pontiff appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, delivering a message of peace: “Peace be with all of you!” He expressed his hope that this message of peace would reach the hearts, families, and people everywhere.
Prevost thanked the cardinals for selecting him and addressed the crowd in Italian, Spanish, and Latin. Having spent years working in Peru, he also expressed gratitude to his former diocese in the South American country, praising the faith and loyalty of the people there.
The announcement of his election came after white smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the 133 participating cardinals had reached a decision. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out, and the crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in celebration.
The election took place on the second day of the conclave, defying some experts’ expectations who did not anticipate an American would be chosen as pope.
The President of the United States congratulated the new pope and expressed pride in his election, recognizing it as a historic moment for the country. Meanwhile, the mayor of Chicago, Pope Leo XIV’s hometown, also expressed pride in the city’s connection to the new pontiff.
Prevost has spent most of his career abroad, studying in Rome and working in Peru since 1985, where he also became a Peruvian citizen. He served as a missionary and later as bishop of Chiclayo, a city in northern Peru.
Rome has been filled with joy, with thousands gathering near the Via della Conciliazione to witness the historic moment when the new pope was presented to the world.
