Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, he appeared on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica about 70 minutes after white smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
"Peace be with you all," Pope Leo XIV told the cheering crowd in St Peter's Square, where tens of thousands had gathered to witness the announcement. The choice of Prevost was officially declared by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, who uttered the Latin words "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope).
At 69 years old and originally from Chicago, Prevost has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru. He became a cardinal only in 2023 and is known for his quiet demeanor and limited media presence. Prevost succeeds Pope Francis, who passed away last month after leading the Church for 12 years. Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, had sought to bring greater openness to the Church, enacting reforms and encouraging debate on divisive issues such as women's ordination and the inclusion of LGBT Catholics.
In the lead-up to the conclave, some cardinals expressed a desire for continuity with Pope Francis' vision of reform and greater inclusion, while others pushed for a return to more traditional practices. Prevost had garnered attention for his support of Pope Francis' commitment to social justice, which includes an inclusive approach to the Catholic community.
Prevost served as bishop of Chiclayo, Peru, from 2015 to 2023 before being called to Rome by Pope Francis to head the Vatican office responsible for selecting bishops worldwide. As a result, he has played a role in choosing many of the Church's bishops. During a 2023 press conference, Prevost remarked, "Our work is to enlarge the tent and to let everyone know they are welcome inside the Church."
White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling that cardinals locked inside have elected a new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
Thousands of pilgrims and curious onlookers in St Peter's Square cheered and applauded as the smoke appeared and bells began to ring, indicating the 2,000-year-old institution has its 267th pope.
All eyes now turn to the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, to see who has been elected to succeed Pope Francis, an Argentine reformer who died last month after 12 years as leader of the worldwide Church.
The new pontiff will be introduced in Latin with his chosen papal name and address the world for the first time.
He faces a momentous task: as well as asserting his moral voice on a conflict-torn global stage, he faces burning Church issues from the continued fall-out from the sexual abuse scandal to the Vatican's troubled balance sheets.
Some 133 "Princes of the Church" from five continents -- the largest conclave ever -- began voting on Wednesday afternoon. REUTERS
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