Pope Leo XIV, history's first North American pope, has celebrated his first Mass as pontiff in the Sistine Chapel.
Cardinals elected the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost to succeed Pope Francis on Thursday and follow in his footsteps on social justice.
Wearing white vestments, Leo proceeded into the Sistine Chapel and blessed the cardinals as he approached the altar and Michelangelo's The Last Judgment behind it.
It was in the same frescoed chapel that Leo was elected on Thursday afternoon as the 267th pope - and the first from the United States.
Pope Leo told cardinals he hopes his election can help the Catholic Church bring light to the “dark nights of this world”.
Meanwhile King Charles joined world and religious leaders in congratulating the new pope.
Buckingham Palace said the King sent a private message to Pope Leo XIV, congratulating him on his election.
Charles sent his and the Queen's most sincere good wishes for his pontificate, a palace spokesperson added.
The King had developed a strong bond with Pope Leo's predecessor Pope Francis over the years, and met him in-person again not long before the Church leader's death last month.
The 69-year-old pope spoke to a rapturous crowd on Thursday after he emerged onto the balcony of the Sistine Chapel following a surprisingly brief conclave.
“Peace be with all of you'”, were his first words as supreme pontiff to more than 50,000 pilgrims and tourists.
He wore the traditional red cape - which Francis had eschewed on his election in 2013 - and trappings of the papacy, suggesting a return to some degree of rule-following after Francis’ unorthodox pontificate.
But in naming himself Leo, the new pope could also have wanted to signal a strong line of continuity: Brother Leo was the 13th century friar who was a great companion to St Francis of Assisi, the late pope’s namesake.
The crowd in St Peter’s Square had erupted in cheers when white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 5pm BST on the second day of the conclave.
Cardinals selected the new Bishop of Rome in the fourth round of voting in the conclave after two inconclusive votes earlier on Thursday and one on Wednesday.
A record 133 cardinals from 70 countries were involved in the secret ballot, up from 115 from 48 nations in the last conclave in 2013.
It followed the death of Pope Francis, 88, on April 21 following a recent health battle.
Stepping out as pope for the first time, Leo XIV spoke about “building bridges with dialogue” in Italian and then switched to Spanish as he paid tribute to Francis, who made him a cardinal earlier this year.
Wearing the same vestments as Benedict XVI, Chicago-born Leo XIV told the faithful: “We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue.
We have to seek together to be a missionary church. A church that builds bridges and dialogue
“I should also like to thank all my cardinal brethren who have chosen me to be the successor of (Saint) Peter and to walk with you as a united church. Always seeking peace and justice.”
He reflected on his past as a missionary, priest and bishop in Peru, but stressed that, above all else, he is a Christian “so we can all walk together”.
A member of the 13th century Augustinian religious order, Prevost is widely seen as a unifying figure for traditionalists and moderates.
He is currently the Dicastery for Bishops, which is responsible for vetting nominations for bishops around the world.
President Trump on Pope Leo XIV: "To have the pope from the United States of America, that's a great honor." pic.twitter.com/0PzT89cpej
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 8, 2025
However, he supported some of Francis’s progressive reforms, including the move to allow divorcees to receive Holy Communion.
Messages of goodwill have poured in from around the world for Leo XIV’s selection, drawing speedy congratulations from US president Donald Trump, who described an pope from America as “such an honour”.
“What greater honour can there be?” he said. The president added that “we’re a little bit surprised and we’re happy.”
Meanwhile, Barack Obama congratulated a “fellow Chicagoan” on his historic victory and Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, added: “Habemus papam — May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the election of Pope Leo as a “momentous moment”, adding that he looks “forward to meeting the Holy Father”.
The election of Pope Leo XIV is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and around the world.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 8, 2025
I look forward to meeting the Holy Father soon. pic.twitter.com/kcXXDCAWk0
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for continued “moral and spiritual support” from the Vatican in their war with Russia.
And Italian leader Giorgia Meloni hailed the “powerful call to peace” Leo XIV made in his first address.
Leo XIV inherits a Church grappling with significant challenges, including ongoing sexual abuse and financial scandals, as well as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
His regal name is reminiscent of Leo the Great, the 5th century aristocrat and 45th pontiff.
He was the first pope listed in the Annuario Pontificio with the title "the Great". It is the fifth-most-popular name chosen by pontiffs.
