Leo XIV elected first American pope

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected pope, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He has taken the name Leo XIV.

White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on the evening of 8 May, on the second day of the conclave, and the new pope appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to a huge crowd.

Who is the new pope?

Leo XIV, 69, was born in Chicago. He is a member of the Augustinian religious order, and spent many years as a missionary and bishop in Peru, where he also became a citizen.

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to lead the Vatican office that advises on the appointment of bishops around the world, and made him a cardinal.

He is seen as a moderate who shares Francis's concern for the poor and for migrants.

His first words

In his first address, delivered in Italian and Spanish, he said: "Peace be with you all." He spoke of building bridges through dialogue, and paid tribute to Pope Francis.

The name

The last pope to take the name Leo was Leo XIII, who led the Church from 1878 to 1903 and was known for his teaching on the rights of workers during the industrial revolution.

The conclave

The conclave of 133 cardinals began on 7 May, after the death of Pope Francis on 21 April, the day after Easter Sunday. Francis, from Argentina, was the first pope from Latin America and led the Church for 12 years.

A two-thirds majority was needed to elect the new pope.

Reaction

Crowds in St Peter's Square cheered and waved flags. President Donald Trump said it was a great honour for the United States.

The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, sent his congratulations. The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, was among the cardinals who took part in the conclave.

In Birmingham, the Archdiocese, based at St Chad's Cathedral, is one of the largest Catholic dioceses in England.

Challenges

The new pope faces challenges including the aftermath of the abuse scandals, divisions within the Church over its direction, and declining attendance in many Western countries.

The Catholic Church has around 1.4 billion members worldwide.