First American pope elected as Cardinal Prevost elected Pope Leo XIV
The pontiff is the 267th Pope, becoming the religious leader of Catholics across the globe
Newly elected Pope Leone XIV appears at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
The identity of the new pope has been revealed as US cardinal Robert Francis Prevost.
His papal name will be Pope Leo XIV.
Earlier, white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel confirmed the news of the new pope to the world.
The pontiff is the 267th Pope, becoming the religious leader of Catholics across the globe and someone believed to be called to be the successor to St Peter, who was the first.
Crowds cheered and there is an eruption of applause in St Peter's Square.
Just before 6.15pm, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, head of the Catholic Church's top court, emerged on the famous St Peter's balcony.
He said "annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam" - which translates as: "I announce to you great joy: We have a pope."
The group of 133 cardinal electors began their behind-closed-doors meeting yesterday evening.
The first round of voting on Wednesday evening failed to elect a pope.
And black smoke again poured out shortly before 11am this morning (noon local time), confirming that no pontiff had been elected.
However, the fourth ballot has delivered a new pope.
Pope Francis was elected after five ballots, and white smoke on the second day of that conclave confirmed the news to the world in 2013.
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