Cardinal Robert Prevost of the United States was elected pope Thursday, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history. He took the name Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo made his first public appearance from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he imparted a blessing and told the faithful, “Peace be with all of you.” He emphasized peace throughout his brief address.
“Evil will not prevail; we are in the hands of God,” he said to the crowd below and a global television audience. “So without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we go forward.”
He also thanked his predecessor, Pope Francis, and called for a “missionary church … that builds bridges, is always open to welcome everyone.”
The announcement of the new pope drew reactions of hope and celebration worldwide, with leaders from multiple countries offering congratulations.
Pope Leo, who spent much of his career ministering in Peru, previously led the Vatican’s powerful Dicastery for Bishops.
White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney earlier Wednesday evening, signaling that the College of Cardinals had chosen a new pope. Bells pealed across Rome as the 267th pontiff was elected on the second day of the conclave.
The smoke indicated that the winning candidate had secured at least two-thirds of the vote—89 ballots—from the 133 cardinals present to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
A senior cardinal then stepped onto the basilica’s balcony and proclaimed in Latin, “Habemus papam!” (“We have a pope!”) before announcing the new pontiff’s birth name and chosen papal name.
As the white smoke drifted into the sky at 6:07 p.m. local time (16:07 GMT), priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept.