American Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Leo XIV.
Born in Chicago, the 69-year-old is the first American pope in history, but has spent much of his ministry as a missionary in Peru.
The white smoke signalled that the cardinal electors had chosen a new pope just after 6pm Central European Time, eliciting cheers and cries from the thousands of onlookers packed into St Peter’s Square and the Via della Conciliazione.
Pope Leo XIV was elected on either the fourth of fifth ballot, which resulted in a conclave lasting just over 24 hours.
The first Pope from the Augustinian religious order, Leo XIV is the second Pontiff from the Americas, after Pope Francis.
In 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo, Peru by Pope Francis, before being called to Rome in 2023 to a posting as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, which was accompanied by a promotion to the rank of Archbishop.
He was created cardinal in 2023 by Pope Francis.
Congratulations from world leaders have already begun, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin writing on behalf of the Irish people that he wishes Pope Leo XIV “every strength, good health and the required spiritual guidance”.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed his congratulations to his countryman over Truth Social, writing that “it is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope”.
“What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment,” Mr Trump said.