Pope Leo XIV calls for 'building bridges' in first address in Rome

POPE Leo XIV called yesterday for the world to “build bridges” and for peace for “all peoples’, as he addressed the crowds in St Peter's Square following his election.

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The new pontiff urged people to “build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace’, before paying homage to his predecessor, Pope Francis.

Robert Francis Prevost became the first pope from the United States, picking the papal name Leo XIV after cardinals from around the world elected him leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Tens of thousands of people packed in St Peter's Square cheered as Prevost appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, waving with both hands, smiling and bowing.

“Peace be with you,” he told the crowds. White 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 Peter's Basilica and churches across Rome rang out.

Crowds of people rushed towards the square to watch the balcony of the basilica, which was fitted out with red curtains for the first address to the world by the 267th pope.