VATICAN CITY: Cardinal Robert Prevost became the first US pope when he was unexpectedly elected to lead the Catholic Church as Leo XIV on Thursday.
About 70 minutes after white smoke rose from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the 133 cardinal electors had selected a new head of state for the Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion members, Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Peace be with you all,” the newly appointed pope said to the applauding audience.
In front of tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear the announcement, French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti proclaimed the selection of Prevost with the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam” (We have a pope).
