Catholics worldwide celebrate election of first American Pope | BBC News

Cardinal Robert Prevost, a long-time missionary in Latin America, has been elected as the surprise choice to be the new Pope and leader of the Catholic Church, taking the name Leo XIV. The new Pope appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, signifying the 133 cardinals had chosen him as a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month. "Peace be with you all," Pope Leo told the cheering crowd, speaking in fluent Italian. He also spoke in Spanish during his brief address. Robert Prevost, 69 and originally from Chicago, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and has dual Peruvian nationality. He became a cardinal only in 2023. Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten coverage from the Vatican with Aleem Maqbool and Mark Easton. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news #BBCNews