First ever American Pope introduced as Cardinal Robert Prevost generally known as ‘Father Bob’ elected by Conclave & named Leo XIV


HISTORY has been made because the First American Pope will lead the Catholic church with outsider Robert Prevost taking over the identify of Leo XIV after lower than 24 hours of secret voting within the Sistine Chapel.

The new Pope – identified to many as “Father Bob” –  stepped out onto the balcony within the Vatican to cheering crowds as he greeted them by saying “peace be with you”.

Pope Leo XIV on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica.

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Leo XIV advised the crowds: “We should be a church that builds bridges”Credit score: AP
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV waving from a balcony.

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Robert Prevost’s first phrases as Pope had been merely: “Peace be with you”Credit score: Reuters
Crowd of people using phones to photograph the announcement of a new pope.

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It could be the primary American Pope in historical pastCredit score: Reuters
Cardinals on a balcony at the Vatican.

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Cardinals hear as newly elected Pope Leo delivers the “Urbi et Orbi” messageCredit score: Reuters
White smoke billowing from a chimney against a blue sky.

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White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel round 5pmCredit score: AP

The Chicago-born Pope, 69, was introduced after Cardinal Mamberti declared: “Habemus papam!” – Latin for “We have now a pope!”.

Leo XIV’s life noticed him begin out as an altar boy, earlier than learning maths and becoming a member of the church – spending a lot of his years as a missionary working in South America.

The boy from the US has now climbed the very best summit within the Catholic Church – being seen as God’s messenger on Earth.

His election noticed him come from being a complete outsider – with odds of 66/1 earlier than he was unveiled to crowds of the trustworthy in Rome.

He’s seen as extra conventional than Francis – however not the conservative hardliner some within the church had been hoping for after his predecessor’s efforts to make the religion extra progressive.

The brand new pontiff urged folks to “construct bridges via dialogue, via encounter, to come back collectively as one folks, all the time in peace”, earlier than paying homage to Pope Francis.

The brand new Pope stated: “Collectively we should attempt to learn how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue and is open to receives all people,” he says.

Shortly afterwards, the pontiff – who’s fluent in six languages, was heard talking in Spanish, saying: “I might significantly prefer to say howdy to my compatriots from Peru.

“It was an incredible pleasure for me to work in Peru.”

US President Trump was fast to congratulate the Pope Leo XIV and stated it is “an incredible honour” for the US.

Robert Prevost elected as Pope Leo XIV – the primary from North American

He posted on Fact Social: “What pleasure, and what a Nice Honor for our Nation. I look ahead to assembly Pope Leo XIV.

“It is going to be a really significant second!”

However the brand new Pope may very well be on a collision course with Trump after vital retweets concerning the President and his administration emerged moments after his election.

Sir Keir Starmer has branded the election of the primary American Pope as a “momentous second” and stated that he appears “ahead to assembly the Holy Father and persevering with to work carefully with the Catholic Church”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the brand new Pope.

He stated: “Ukraine deeply values the Holy See’s constant place in upholding worldwide regulation, condemning the Russian Federation’s navy aggression in opposition to Ukraine, and defending the rights of harmless civilians.

“At this decisive second for our nation, we hope for the continued ethical and non secular help of the Vatican in Ukraine’s efforts to revive justice and obtain an enduring peace.

“I want His Holiness Leo XIV knowledge, inspiration, and energy—each non secular and bodily—in finishing up his noble mission. Advert multos annos!”

His deeply non secular mother and father typically hosted clergymen and bishops for lunch at their house when he was a boy, and a life within the church was all the time his ambition.

Person draped in an American flag in St. Peter's Square.

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An individual stands draped in a US flag after the appointment of Leo XIVCredit score: Reuters
A crowd of people cheering, holding up an American flag, reacting to the announcement of a new pope.

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Crowds cheer and wave the celebrities and stripesCredit score: AFP
A nun holds a US flag.

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A nun holds a US flag in the course of the speech of the newly elected Pope Leo XIVCredit score: AP
Crowd cheering with an American flag in front.

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Crowds smile and cheer with delightCredit score: Reuters
Pope Francis placing a red biretta on a new cardinal's head.

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Pope Francis places the pink biretta on the top of latest cardinal Robert Francis Prevost throughout a consistory in St. Peter Sq. on the Vatican, September 30, 2023Credit score: Alamy

Ordained as a priest 4 years in the past, he joined a mission in Peru the place he spent a few years heading up a seminary.

Returning to the US in 1999, he then met controversy when he allowed alleged little one abuser Father James Ray to reside at a friary in Chicago.

Whereas French President Emmanuel Macron stated he hoped for a preach of “peace and hope”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he hoped the American pontiff would interact in “constructive dialogue” with the Kremlin.

He stated: “I’m assured that the constructive dialogue and cooperation established between Russia and the Vatican will proceed to develop on the idea of the Christian values that unite us.”

The brand new Pope, who’s energetic on social media, has repeatedly voiced his issues over Donald Trump‘s immigration insurance policies and shared his progressive views.

His final publish on X, dated April 14, refers back to the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.

It reads: “Do you not see the struggling? Is your conscience not disturbed? How are you going to keep quiet?”

Black and white photo of Pope John Paul II shaking hands with newly ordained Rev. Robert Francis Prevost.

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Robert Prevost greets Pope John Paul II in 1982Credit score: St. Mary of the Assumption Paris
Pope Leo XIV appearing on the Vatican balcony with cardinals.

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Leo XIV gestures to the group after his electionCredit score: Getty
Pope Leo XIV appearing on the Vatican balcony.

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The previous altar boy and maths scholar smilesCredit score: Getty
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV giving the Urbi et Orbi address.

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Leo XIV accepts the function of the Bishop of RomeCredit score: EPA

Prevost was born in Chicago in 1955 to immigrant mother and father of French, Italian and Spanish descent.

After graduating from Villanova College in Pennsylvania with a level in maths, the future pontiff joined the Order of St Augustine, taking his vows in 1978.

He rose via the ranks of the Church to develop into appointed apostolic administrator in Peru by Pope Francis in 2014.

The pair had been stated to be shut and Prevost was thought of by Vatican insiders to be a possible kingmaker for the present election.

However few thought of the brand new Leo XIV the possible winner of the key vote.

The brand new Pope’s speech in full

Right here is Leo XIV’s speech from the Vatican balcony in full:

Peace be with all of you

Expensive brothers and sisters, that is the primary greeting of Christ resurrected, the great pastor who gave life for the Lord and I might additionally like this greeting of peace to come back into your hearts and be part of everybody, whoever they’re, all peoples on the entire earth, peace be with you.

That is the peace of Christ resurrected, it’s a peace that’s disarming, humble and also will persevere and it comes from God, God who loves all of us unconditionally.

And allow us to maintain listening to even the weak voices and Pope Francis was all the time brave and blessed Rome.

The pope that blessed Rome, he’s blessing the entire world on that Easter morning. So allow us to comply with up that blessing.

God loves us, God loves all of you, sin is not going to prevail, we’re all within the palms of God.

And on the identical time with out worry, allow us to be reunited hand in hand with God and amongst ourselves let’s transfer ahead as a result of we’re the disciples of Christ, Christ preceded us, the world wants your gentle, humanity wants him as a bridge so as to have the ability to get to God and attain God’s love.

You could additionally assist us and assist each other. And all of us should be a single peoples.

I might additionally prefer to thank all my brother cardinals who’ve chosen me to be the successor to Peter and to stroll along with you as a united church all the time looking for peace, justice and all the time attempting to work as women and men trustworthy to Jesus Christ with out worry and in addition to be missionaries.

I’m a son of St Augustin, I’m Christian with you and to that extent we will all stroll collectively in the direction of that land that God has ready us for.

To the church of Rome, I wish to offer you a speciial greeting. Collectively we should attempt to learn how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue, that’s all the time open to obtain on this piazza with open arms to anybody that wants our charity, our presents, dialogue and love.

And I might identical to additionally t osay one thing in Spanish. I significantly prefer to say howdy to my compatriots in Peru

To all of you, brothers and sisters, of Rome, the entire world, we should be a church that walks a path of peace, that all the time appears for charity, that’s all the time seeking to be shut particularly to those who are struggling

At present, the day by which we pray to the Madonna of Pompeii, our mom Mary all the time desires to remain near us and assist us along with her love and her intercession.

Allow us to pray collectively, this new mission, for the entire church, and for peace all through the world.

And let’s ask for this particular grace for Mary, our mom. Hail Mary

Pope Francis introduced Prevost to the Vatican in 2023 to function the highly effective head of the workplace that vets bishop nominations from all over the world, one of the vital necessary jobs within the Catholic Church.

And in January he elevated him into the senior ranks of cardinals.

The final pope to take the identify Leo was Leo XIII, an Italian who led the church from 1878 to 1903.

White smoke erupted from the Vatican at round 5pm as a sign that the brand new pontiff had been chosen.

The Pope greeted the world for the primary time on the balcony within the iconic St Peter’s Basilica overlooking St Peter’s Sq..

The newly elected pontiff appeared in papal robes – full with a white silk sash and skullcap and pink leather-based sneakers.

The announcement of the brand new pope was made as clouds of white smoke or fumata bianca emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, as a bell rang.

Illustration of a step-by-step guide to the papal conclave.

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Crowds of trustworthy Catholics erupted with pleasure and had been seen cheering as they patiently waited to search out out who the brand new Pope could be.

It comes after black smoke billowed from the chimney this morning, which means no new pontiff had been chosen.

The brand new pontiff was chosen in an historic ritual that has remained unchanged for 1,000 years.

The historic occasion noticed 133 cardinals participate in a number of rounds of voting starting on Wednesday, till a transparent winner was determined.

The swift decision after simply someday retains with the pattern of different latest conclaves, with each these in 2005 and 2013 resulting in new popes inside a couple of ballots.

For a pope to be elected they need to get two-thirds of the vote with every cardinal’s vote having equal worth.

There was a lot hypothesis as to who could be the subsequent pope earlier than the conclave started.

The conclave was initiated after the loss of life of Pope Francis at 88 on the morning of Easter Monday, following a battle with pneumonia.

Pope Francis was anointed in 2013 when he took over from Pope Benedict XVI who stepped again from the function as a result of ailing well being in an extremely uncommon transfer.

Pope Francis waves to a crowd.

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Pope Francis served as pope from March 2013 to April 2025Credit score: AFP
Screengrab of cardinal electors entering the Sistine Chapel.

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The cardinal electors getting into the Sistine Chapel at the start of the ConclaveCredit score: EPA
Clergy on a rooftop terrace awaiting the papal conclave results.

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Clergy stand on a rooftop terrace as they wait to see the smoke billow from the chimney of the Sistine ChapelCredit score: AP
Clergy on a rooftop awaiting the papal conclave results.

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Crowds collect within the Vatican to await the announcement of the brand new Pope’s identificationCredit score: AP



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