Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica after his election, at the Vatican.
A new pope has been elected. Robert Francis Prevost, of the United States, and the first American pope, has been selected by the papal conclave to take over as leader of the 1.4 billion-member Roman Catholic Church.
The new pontiff, who has taken the name Leo XIV, was chosen on day 2 of the conclave. It came over two weeks after the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88.
Prevost, 69, is a Chicago-born cardinal who previously served in Peru for two decades.
Just after 6 p.m. local time in Vatican City (noon ET), white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney as bells rang, which symbolized that the conclave had reached the two-thirds majority necessary for a new pope.
Previous votes, which resulted in black smoke coming from the chapel, meant that a vote was inconclusive and did not reach a decision.
The papal conclave began on May 7 with 133 electors, the largest number of voting cardinals in history.
A crowd of more than 10,000 people had gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday to await the results of the votes.
The newly elected pope appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he was introduced to the world.
Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago-born cardinal who previously served in Peru, was named the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday following the conclave's decisive vote. He is the first American pope.
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti made the announcement from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
Mamberti also announced Prevost's chosen papal name: Pope Leo.
The crowd in St. Peter's Square continues to grow as they wait for the new pope to appear.
More than 10,000 had gathered at the Vatican when white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, touching off celebrations among the faithful. And thousands more have arrived since in anticipation of the announcement.
Here are some photos of the reactions in and around the Vatican.
As the white smoke clears from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, attention now shifts to the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where the new pope will be introduced.
White smoke billowed from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel just after 6 p.m. local time on Thursday, signaling that the conclave of 133 cardinals have reached the two-thirds majority necessary to elect a new pope and leader of the
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