Wow, that's exciting

The faithful greet a surprise choice

- Harriet Sherwood Vatican City

Noah from Los Angeles had listened carefully to the first words spoken by Pope Leo XIV from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, but his lack of Italian meant he understood none of it.

"Wait, you mean he's American? Really? Wow, that's exciting," he said with some surprise on his way out of St Peter's Square. As he absorbed the news of the first American pope, he said he hoped it would be good news for his country.

"We sure as hell need it," he said. Others said they knew little about Robert Prevost's views or how his papacy might unfold. The new pope featured on few lists of papabile - cardinals considered to be in the running for the top job.

Maria from Ireland, possibly unaware of the new pope's apparently liberal leanings, said she was disappointed. "I fear this is the result of lobbying by hard-right American Catholics. It's not what I was hoping for."

But Leo, another visitor from Ireland, said his papal namesake "looks impressive". He added: "I think an American pope will help, especially the way things are in the world now."

When white smoke billowed out of the conclave chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel shortly after 6pm yesterday, it was greeted by cheers, whoops, whistles and clapping from the thousands in the square. At that point, no one knew who the new pope was, but it did not stop the chant of "viva papa" echoing around St Peter's Square. Some people literally jumped with joy.

The Catholic faithful and the curious tourists who had been waiting for most of the day began rushing towards the basilica, from where Pope Leo XIV would speak his first words within the hour. Nuns in habits and priests in cassocks moved with unexpected agility. Most had broad smiles, but some wept or held their palms together in prayer.