Pope Leo XIV elected, becoming first North American pontiff Cardinal Robert Prevost, an American, has been elected as the new pope. The Chicago native will take the name Pope Leo XIV.
Earlier white smoke was pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling that a pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
That means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis. The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers. The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words “Habemus papam!” Latin for “We have a pope!” from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. The cardinal then reads the winner’s birth name in Latin, and reveals the name he has chosen to be called.
The new pope made his first public appearance and imparted a blessing from the same loggia.
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