American Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new head of the Catholic Church, under the name Pope Leo XIV.
White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican at 18:08 on Thursday, announcing the election of a new pope to succeed Francis by the 133 cardinal electors who had been gathered in a highly-secretive conclave since Wednesday afternoon.
For just over an hour, the world waited for the official announcement from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica by the cardinal protodeacon ('Habemus Papam') to learn the identity of the new spiritual leader of 1.4 billion Catholics.
At around 19:15, it was announced that 69-year-old American Robert Francis Prevost had been elected as the new pope following a short conclave. He has chosen the name Leo XIV.
He was head of the Dicastery for Bishops and was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023. He is the first pope from the United States in history.
'A great honour for our country'
US President Donald Trump offered his congratulations to Leo XIV in a message posted on his Truth Social network on Thursday.
"What excitement and what a great honour for our country," he added, saying he was "looking forward" to meeting the new head of the Catholic Church.
