Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States has been elected the 267th pope, marking a historic first as the only American ever chosen to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
At 69 years old, Prevost hails from Chicago, Illinois, and secured the required two-thirds majority vote during what is believed to be the fourth round of balloting—following two unsuccessful rounds on Thursday morning and one on Wednesday.
White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel Thursday evening, signaling to the world that a new pope had been chosen. Church bells rang out as thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square erupted in celebration, chanting, “Long live the pope!”
An hour later, Cardinal Dominique Mamberti stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to formally introduce Prevost as the new pontiff, ushering in a new era for the Church’s 1.4 billion followers worldwide.
