A new pope has been elected. <\/p>\n
American Robert Francis Prevost has been named Pope Leo XIV. He is the second pope from the Americas – after Pope Francis – but he is the first U.S. pope. The 69-year-old was born Sept. 14, 1955 in Chicago, Ill, but spent many years as a missionary in Peru. <\/p>\n
White smoke was seen shortly after 6 p.m. local time in the Vatican on Thursday (May 8), signalling that the 133 cardinal electors gathered in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel have elected a new pope, according to Vatican News on X. <\/p>\n
As soon as the smoke appeared, cheers erupted from outside of the Vatican. <\/p>\n
The conclave to elect the 267th pope only began Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The white smoke, which comes from a temporary stove in the Sistine Chapel, signals that a pope has been elected. The white smoke goes on for several minutes.<\/p>\n
Prevost greeted the world as Pope Leo XIV for the first time shortly after 7 p.m. to grant his Urbi et Orbi blessing.<\/p>\n
"Thank you to my cardinal brothers who chose me to be the successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel," he said.<\/p>\n
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\nPope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the faithful for the first time as the 267th Pope. pic.twitter.com\/tsA1a0XSOM<\/a><\/p>\n
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) May 8, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n