Robert Francis Prevost becomes first US pope as Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States on Thursday picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the worlds 14 billion CatholicsTens of thousands of people packed in St Peters Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peters Basilica waving with both hands smiling and bowingPeace by with you he told the crowdsWhite smoke from the Sistine Chapel had billowed into the sky on the cardinals second day of voting to announce his election in a secret conclave while the bells of St Peters Basilica and churches across Rome rang outCrowds of people rushed towards the square to watch the balcony of the basilica which has been fitted out with red curtains for the first address to the world by the 267th popeThe new pontiff who succeeds Argentine reformer Pope Francis was introduced in Latin with his chosen papal nameIts an amazing feeling said an elated Joseph Brian a 39yearold chef from Belfast in Northern Ireland who came with his mother to Rome for the spectacleIm not an overly religious person but being here with all these people just blew me away he told AFP as people around him jumped up and down in excitementThere were euphoric scenes as one priest sat on someones shoulders waving a Brazilian flag and another lifted a heavy crucifix into the air in jubilation Habemus Papam Habemus papam woooo howled Bruna Hodara 41 from Brazil echoing the words to be spoken on the balcony as the new pope is introducedShe like others recorded the historic moment on her phone as others waved flags and cried out Viva Il Papa Long live the pope in ItalianIts a once in a lifetime opportunity to be here to see the pope Its really special Im excited said Florian Fried a 15yearold from Munich in GermanyPope Francis died last month aged 88 after a 12year papacy during which he sought to forge a more compassionate Church but drew anger from many conservatives with his progressive approachThe new pope now faces a momentous task as well as asserting his moral voice on a conflicttorn global stage he must try to unite a divided Church and tackle burning issues such as the the continued fallout from the sexual abuse scandalSome 133 Princes of the Church from five continents the largest and most international conclave ever began voting on Wednesday afternoonSworn to secrecy on pain of excommunication their only means of communicating their progress to the outside world was by sending up smoke through the chimney of the Sistine ChapelOn Wednesday evening and then again on Thursday lunchtime the smoke was black eliciting disappointed sighs from the tens of thousands watchingBut on Thursday afternoon just after 600 pm 1600 GMT the smoke emitted was white confirming that the Catholic Church has a new spiritual leaderIt was unknown how many ballots it took to elect the new pope but it followed recent history in wrapping up in less than two daysIn 2005 Benedict XVI a German theologian was elected in four ballots and Francis in 2013 was elected in five ballotsWhile the details of the election will forever remain secret the new pope had to secure at least twothirds of votes to be electedBy tradition he now enters the Room of Tears where freshlyelected popes give free rein to their emotions to don a papal cassock for the first time before returning to the Sistine Chapel so the cardinals can pledge their obedienceHe will then appear on the balcony along with a senior cardinal who will announce to the waiting crowds Habemus Papam We have a popeThe pope will then give a short speech and impart his first Urbi et Orbi To the City and the World blessing Pastor or diplomat The election has come at a time of great geopolitical uncertainty which was seen as a key voting issue along with the rifts within the ChurchFrancis was a compassionate reformer who prioritised migrants and the environment but he angered traditionalists who wanted a defender of doctrine rather than a headlinemakerSome 80 percent of the cardinal electors were appointed by Francis Hailing from 70 countries around the world it was the most international conclave everThat was no guarantee however that the cardinals would pick someone in his veinThe question was whether to choose a pastor or diplomat a liberal or conservative someone versed in the Curia the Churchs governing body or a relative outsider from areas of the world where Catholic faith is thrivingBefore the cardinals were locked into the Sistine Chapel Wednesday their dean Giovanni Battista Re urged them to choose someone able to protect the Churchs unityThe next pope must also be able to lead at this difficult and complex turning point in history amid raging conflicts around the world and the rise of ultranationalist partiesThe Church has also had difficulty in adapting to the modern world with declining priest numbers and increasingly empty pews in the WestThe papal inauguration usually takes place less than a week after the election with a mass celebrated before political and religious leaders from around the worldThe new pope will likely do a tour of St Peters Square in his popemobile for the first time before delivering a homily outlining his prioritiesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoeveratOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params