Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the first American pope.
He is expected to appear on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica after being elected as the new Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church.
The new pontiff will take immediate charge of the Vatican, leading the Catholic Church and holding authority over its 1.4 billion followers.
He will now deliver his first public address and his first “Urbi et Orbi” (”To the City and the World”) blessing in front of the crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square.
Pope switches between Italian and Spanish
Pope Leo is switching between Italian and Spanish as he delivers his first remarks as the new pontiff.
“We can all walk together towards that homeland God has prepared for us,” he told the thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square. “A special greeting to the Church of Rome.”
He then switched to Spanish to thank his former diocese in Peru “where a loyal people has shared its faith and has given a lot”.
Aged 69 and originally from Chicago, Prevost has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal only in 2023.
Pope Leo’s first words
“Peace be with all you,” Pope Leo XIV said from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica this evening, in his first public words.
A great honour for our country, says Trump
Donald Trump has reacted to the election of Robert Prevost as the first American pope.
“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,” Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“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!”
‘A big surprise’
Thomas Reese, an American Jesuit priest, analyst and the author of Inside the Vatican, told The Telegraph: “It’s a big surprise. It shows that the Latin American cardinals were united behind him and pushed his election as pope.
“They see him as one of their own because he was a priest and a bishop in Latin America and spent many, many years there. He is not just an American, he is a pope for all of the Americas. He is known as being pastoral, being good at listening. I think he will be in continuity with Pope Francis.”
Asked whether it was unexpected for an American to be elected, Father Reese said: “Oh yeah, shocking.”
