White smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney today, signaling that a new pope has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers on Thursday at the first sign of the smoke, and once again when the name was revealed.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has been named the new pope, and his official papal name will be Pope Leo the Fourteenth. The Chicago-born Prevost becomes the first pope to ever come from the United States.
The new pope made his first public appearance to impart a blessing over the crowd gathered outside. In his opening words, Pope Leo XIV said, "Peace be with you."
The long history of popes named "Leo" is reportedly connected to Catholic teaching on social justice, especially regarding the rights of workers.
History’s first American pope recalled in his remarks that he was part of the Augustinian religious order, but that he was a Christian above all, “So we can all walk together.” He’s also a naturalized Peruvian citizen who lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.
Pope Leo XIV spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English. "Humanity needs Christ as a bridge, to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges," he said.
He went on to recite the "Hail Mary" as the enormous crowd of 40,000 joined him.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKED
The world's Roman Catholic cardinals began the process of selecting the next pope at the Vatican earlier this week.
A total of 133 cardinals from 70 countries gathered in Rome for the papal conclave, sequestering themselves behind the Vatican’s medieval walls with no outside communication as they sought to elect the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
The cardinals took part in a mass in St. Peter's Cathedral before going to the Sistine Chapel to begin the voting. The electors cast paper ballots, and voting continued until one candidate received a two-thirds majority, at least 89 votes.
After no one was elected on the first few rounds of voting, black smoke had been seen coming from the Sistine Chapel chimney for two days. But it wasn't long before the Catholic faithful were greeted with the white smoke, which signified their new leader had been chosen.
Pope Leo IX will be the successor to Pope Francis, who died in April at the age of 88.
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