The papal conclave in the Vatican has chosen the new Pope as white smoke has been seen billowing out from the Sistine Chapel.
A bell has also rung out to mark the election of Robert Francis Prevost as the new Pope.
He has been elected as Pope Leo XIV and emerged onto the balcony to an eruption of applause while people could be heard chanting his name.
Speaking in Italian then switching to Spanish,he said Pope Francis was always ‘courageous and blessed Rome’.
‘The pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning,’ he said.
‘Let us follow up that blessing. God loves us and God loves all of you.
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV,Cardinal Robert F. Prevost of the U.S.,appears on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica (Picture: Reuters)
‘Sin will not prevail,we are all in the hands of God.’
He also said that the Catholic Church must be a church that ‘builds bridges’.
The new Pope was born in Chicago and was made cardinal by Francis in 2023.
He spent many years as a missionary in Peru and is reportedly close to Francis’s vision regarding the environment,outreach to the poor and migrants.
The senior cardinal deacon announced the new Pope’s name from the balcony.
He then blessed the crowd with the traditional Latin declaration ‘Habemus Papam’ (we have a Pope).
White smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signalling that cardinals elected a new Pope (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Right now,there is an estimated crowd size of 150,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square.
Crowds have also been seen rushing towards the square in hope to catch a glimpse of the new leader of the Catholic Church.
The Swiss Guard has also appeared on the square to pay their respects to the new Pope.
World leaders have started to congratulate the election of the new Pope,including President Donald Trump.
He wrote on his Truth social platform: ‘Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost,who was just named Pope.
‘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!’
Jubilant crowds gather and celebrate as the new Pope is elected (Picture: Reuters)
Voting ballots are burned with chemicals added in a special furnace to ensure the colour signals the correct result.
For black,the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate,anthracene – which is a component of coal tar – and sulfur.
For white,potassium chlorate,lactose and chloroform resin are added to the burning ballots.
A new Pope requires a two-thirds majority in the voting.
A nun cries as white smoke signals that cardinals elected a new Pope (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
The voting started a behind-closed-doors meeting shortly before 5pm UK time on Wednesday following the death of Pope Francis last month.
As is tradition,the 133 cardinals have been cut off from all communication from the outside world.
They have no phone or internet access and are under oaths of secrecy.
People react to the white smoke from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel (Picture: Reuters)
This afternoon voting started at 3.30pm after a morning where the new Pope had not yet been chosen as black smoke could be seen rising.
Four rounds of voting take place each day,two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Smoke only comes out of the chimney up to twice a day,as ballots from two successive rounds are generally burned together if no Pope is chosen in either round.
Pope Francis was elected after five ballots,and white smoke on the second day of that conclave confirmed the news to the world in 2013.
Papal elections are speeding up as Popes get older.
The longest conclave length since 1900 was the election of Pius X in 1903 and Pius XI in 1922 which took five days each.
Other top contenders include the election of Benedict XV in 1914 and John XXIII in 1958 which both took four days.
In more recent years,in 2005,Pope Benedict XVI was elected in two days after four votes.
In October 1978,Pope John Paul II was chosen after eight rounds of voting across three days.
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