Robert Francis Prevost of U.S. Becomes Pope, Addresses World

Vatican says he is the first US pope in Catholic church history; new papal name is Leo XIV

- 

Robert Francis Prevost of the US becomes the new pope as cardinals chose to lead the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Thursday, sending up white smoke from the Sistine Chapel on their second day of voting in conclave. Vatican said Robert Francis Prevost's new papal name is Leo XIV.

Tens of thousands of people packed in St. Peter's Square cheered, applauded and wept as the smoke appeared, 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 has been fitted out with red curtains for the first address to the world by the 267th pope.

The new pontiff, who succeeds Argentine reformer Pope Francis, was introduced in Latin with his chosen papal name and he addressed the world for the first time.