Robert Prevost elected as first American pope in history

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new pope of the Catholic Church.

Prevost makes history as the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the church.

The 69-year-old new pope adopts the name Leo XIV.

White smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney this afternoon, announcing the election of a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Prevost beat several cardinals considered frontrunners for the race to succeed Francis, who died last month.

They included Pietro Parolin, who oversaw the conclave; Luis Tagle, who was dubbed the “Asian Francis”; Fridolin Besungu, a conservative cardinal who would have been the first African pope in centuries; and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who would have also made history as the first Italian pope in decades.

One hundred and thirty-five eligible cardinals participated in a secretive voting process known as “the conclave”, which began Wednesday.

The cardinals had no contact with the outside world, and their votes will not be revealed.

Officially, there is also no open campaigning or polling, and the candidates do not declare themselves publicly.

Pope Leo XIV’s challenge will revolve around uniting a church with deep divisions over previous reforms instituted by his predecessor and addressing the needs of a church whose flock is growing fastest in the Global South.

His name follows Pope Leo XIII, who was elected pontiff in 1878.

Leo XIII was known for his intellectualism and outlined the rights of workers to a fair wage, safe working conditions, and the formation of trade unions.

In his first public address as Leo XIV, the pope said the church must now focus on “dialogue and love”.

He said “charity” should be extended to all, especially those who are “suffering”.