HABEMUS PAPAM

Robert Francis Prevost was elected on Thursday to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, making him the first pope from the United States. He chose the name Leo XIV. Speaking from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the pope delivered his first public remarks since taking over as leader of the Roman Catholic Church. He urged the world to seek peace and remember those who suffer.

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Here's what to know about the new pope, how he was chosen from the many contenders and the issues he will face as the successor to Pope Francis, who died last month at 88.

WHO IS THE NEW POPE?

Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was born in Chicago and served for two decades in Peru, where he became a bishop and a naturalised citizen, then rose to lead his international religious order. Leading up to the death of his predecessor, Prevost held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally.

A member of the Order of St Augustine, he resembles Francis in his commitment to the poor and migrants and to meeting people where they are. He told the Vatican's official news website last year that “the bishop is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom”.

He has spent much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in 1982 at 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome. In Peru, he was a missionary, parish priest, teacher and bishop. As

WHO IS ROBERT FRANCIS PREVOST, THE NEW POPE?

STORY: ELISABETTA POVOLEDO, JASON HOROWITZ, EMMA BUBOLA, MOTOKO RICH AND ELIZABETH DIAS / NYT

the Augustinians’ leader, he visited orders around the world. He also speaks Spanish and Italian.

WHERE DOES HE STAND ON THE MAJOR ISSUES?