Robert Prevost has been chosen as the new pope and head of the Vatican and Catholic Church after a two-day conclave.
White smoke rises above Vatican as new pope elected
Robert Francis Prevost has been named as the new pope after a two-day conclave in the Vatican. He was unveiled as the successor to the late Pope Francis in front of an excited crowd in St Peter's Square on Thursday evening. Cardinal Prevost, 69, has become the first North American pope and will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The new pope was chosen in the ancient conclave process, which has remained unchanged for 1,000 years and saw 133 cardinals take place in multiple rounds of voting until a clear winner emerged. He is seen as a reformer in the footsteps of Pope Francis and was part of one of the late pontiff’s biggest reforms in Rome - adding three women to the voting bloc that decides on bishop nominations to go before the pope.
Pilgrims and tourists gathered in Vatican City to celebrate the new pope's election (Image: Getty)
Many thought Francis would be succeeded by a European cardinal, but cardinals voting in the conclave decided to back an American candidate.
The new pope is the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop from Chicago, the largest Archdiocese in North America, and holds both American and Peruvian citizenship.
Francis brought the 69-year-old to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the globe - one of the most important roles in the Catholic Church.
His election signals the overhaul of a long taboo against a US pope linked to the significant geopolitical power already wielded by America in secular spheres.
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In early 2025, Francis appointed Prevost to the most senior rank of cardinals, suggesting that he would be high on the late pontiff's list of favourites to replace him.
US President Donald Trump congratulated Pope Leo on social media after his election was confirmed, describing it as "a great honour for our country".
"Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope," he wrote on Truth Social. "It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"
3 weeks ago
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English (US) · 