Cardinal electors have chosen Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope.
The 69-year-old is the 267th pope and the first ever pontiff from the United States. He has chosen the name Leo XIV.
Prevost is the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo in Peru, where he worked as a missionary.
The 133 cardinals under the age of 80 began the heavily ritualized and secret process on Wednesday, shut away in complete isolation as they voted to pick a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21.
The cardinals held an initial inconclusive vote on Wednesday evening. On Thursday, the second day of the conclave, white smoke finally emerged after the fourth round of voting.
The senior elector among the cardinal deacons, French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, stepped out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce to the crowds in the square “Habemus Papam” (We have a Pope).
Prevost soon followed, waving to the cheering thousands below before speaking. Unlike Francis, who wore only the white cassock during his introduction, Leo XIV wore the traditional red papal garment over the cassock.
“Peace be with all you,” the new pontiff said in his first words to the world. He also called for the world to “build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace,” before paying homage to his predecessor, Pope Francis. — with reports from Reuters and Agence France-Presse/BAP/BM, GMA Integrated News
