Who is Pope Leo XIV? The first US born Pontiff elected as leader of Catholic Church

A new Pope has been elected as the successor to Pope Francis.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was announced to the world as the new Pope on Thursday. The 69-year-old was elected as the first US Pope after a conclave lasting 24 hours.

White smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney just after 5pm (Irish time) as crowds erupted in cheers and a bell tolled - signifying that 133 cardinals had reached a decision on the new leader of the Catholic church.

His papal name was announced with the words 'Habemus Papum' - Latin for 'we have a pope'. The Chicago born pope will be known as Leo XIV.

He stepped out onto the balcony at St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday evening to greet the crowds gathered in the square - and the world - for the first time as the 267th pope, Mirror UK reports.

Pope Leo XIV will have spent the last hour or so in the Room of Tears next to the Sistine Chapel, after he formally accepted his election as Pope and changed into the papal cassock for the first time.

He then emerged onto the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica as history’s first American pope to address the crowds, recalling that he was an Augustinian priest, but a Christian above all, and a bishop, “so we can all walk together.”

He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.

"Together we must try to find out how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue and is open to receive everybody," Pope Leo XIV said.

He then speaks in Spanish and adds: "I would particularly like to say hello to my compatriots from Peru. It was a great pleasure for me to work in Peru."

The Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then archbishop. Francis had an eye on him for years, sending him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role.

The new pope was formerly the prior general, or leader, of the Order of St. Augustine, formed in the 13th century as a community of “mendicant” friars dedicated to poverty, service and evangelization.

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.