The new pontiff's identity was revealed about an hour after white smoke emerged from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, signaling that a new pope had been chosen with a decisive vote by the cardinal electors gathered for the papal conclave.
After the white smoke brought an initial cheer, the crowd in St. Peter's Square erupted in applause again as it was announced that the Catholic Church, for the first time in its history, has a leader from the U.S.
Pope Leo XIV soon stepped onto the balcony to deliver his first public remarks as pontiff.
"Peace be with you," he said as he began speaking to the gathered masses in Italian. "This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarmed peace and a disarming, humble and persevering peace. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still keep in our ears that weak, but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome. The Pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that morning of Easter Day. Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail."
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