American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new pope, taking the name Leo XIV, and will now serve as the spiritual leader of approximately 1.4 billion Catholics around the globe.
The papal conclave, which began on Wednesday, May 7, concluded on its second day after four rounds of voting.
The appearance of white smoke rising from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel signaled the successful election of a new pope. Immediately after, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out across Vatican City, as thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers of "Viva il Papa!" — "Long live the Pope!"
As excitement swept through the crowd, a suspenseful hour followed before the identity of the newly elected pontiff was revealed: Robert Francis Prevost. The world now awaits to see what kind of leadership Pope Leo XIV will bring to the Catholic Church in the coming years.