CARDINAL Robert Francis Prevost has become the new Pope, the first North American to hold the role.
The 69-year-old Chicago-born cardinal, a naturalised citizen of Peru, appeared on the Vatican balcony around one hour after white smoke first announced a new pope had been elected.
Prevost is considered a moderate, and was only appointed a cardinal in September 2023.
He took the name Pope Leo XIV.
The previous Pope Leo, the XIII, reigned from 1878 to 1903.
Shortly after 5pm UK time on Thursday, crowds in St Peter’s Square bore witness to history as white smoke billowed into the air from a specially-erected chimney at the chapel, in the age-old tradition.
Onlookers erupted into cheers and applause as bells tolled to confirm the news.
The timing means it took cardinals only around 24 hours to elect their new leader.
Three UK cardinals took part in conclave – Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, and Rome-based Cardinal Arthur Roche.
This conclave was thought to be one of the most diverse of any meeting of cardinals before, representing some 70 countries and hailing from places like Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga which had not had a cardinal before.
Pope Francis had appointed some 108 of the 133 cardinals who took part in the conclave to choose his successor.
