The mammoth crowd in St. Peter’s Square went wild in jubilation on Thursday as Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as the new pope, succeeding Pope Francis who died on Easter Monday, April 21.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, is the first American in history to be elected as the leader of the Catholic Church.
He has chosen the papal name of Leo XIV.
Born in Chicago, Prevost worked for many years as a missionary in Peru, South America, before he was made an archbishop there. He is is seen as a leader with global experience and a reformer who will build on Pope Francis’ reforms.
Speaking from the Vatican balcony amid cheers from thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square, the new pope, who spoke mostly in fluent Italian, invoked peace on all the people.
“May peace be with all of you,” he said. “I would like this greeting of peace to reach all your hearts and families… and people around the world. May peace be with you,” he said.
He spoke on the need for unity, paid tribute to Pope Francis, and then asked everyone to join together in prayer as he began to recite Ave Maria.
Earlier, white smoke billowed above the Sistine Chapel signalling the emergence of a new pontiff from among the 133 voting cardinals.
