The new Pope Leo XIV is introduced.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope Leo XIV, marking the first time in Church history that the Church has had an American leader.
The Conclave of Cardinals at the Vatican on the evening of May 8th (night of May 8th Hanoi time) elected a new Pope after four rounds of voting. This is the third consecutive time the Conclave of Cardinals has elected a Pope on the second day of voting. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was elected after four rounds of voting. Pope Francis was elected in 2013 after five rounds of voting.
The crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square cheered as white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 6:08 p.m., a sign that the cardinals had chosen a new leader for the Catholic Church.
"I have great news to announce to everyone. We have a Pope," Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the Dean of the College of Deacons, declared to the world from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
The Vatican announced that the new Pope is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American citizen. He is the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church and the first in history to be an American.
The new Pope chose the papal name Leo XIV. He appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to greet the faithful and the world.
"Peace be with you, my brothers and sisters," said the new Pope Leo XIV in his opening address from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica. "This is the first greeting from the Risen Lord, and I also wish to send this greeting of peace to our hearts and our families."
Pope Leo XIV, 69, hails from Chicago, Illinois, USA. Before his election as Pope, he spent much of his career as a missionary in South America. He served as Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo, northwestern Peru, from 2015 to 2023.
He was appointed Archbishop by Pope Francis in January 2023, became a Cardinal in 2024, and recently took charge of the Vatican's Congregation for Bishops. Cardinal Prevost has given few media interviews and rarely appears in public. He is said to be fluent in five to six languages.
The new Pope Leo XIV is expected to continue the reforms of his predecessor Francis.
Many world leaders have congratulated the new Pope. US President Donald Trump called it a "great honor" for the United States and expressed his hope to meet Pope Leo XIV.
The inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to take place in the next few days.
