Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the first-ever American pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
The announcement came roughly an hour after white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on the second day of the papal conclave.
Nearly 200 cardinals descended on St. Peter’s Basilica for the conclave. Large television screens were placed under statues of Sts. Peter and Paul and along the Via della Conciliazione. Thousands of faithful onlookers have gathered outside the world’s largest church in anticipation of the next pope.
CARDINALS CELEBRATE FINAL MASS BEFORE CONCLAVE TO ELECT 267TH POPE BEGINS
Smoke from the newly installed chimney reveals the result of each vote: Black smoke indicates an inconclusive vote, while white smoke indicates the selection of a new pope.
