Cardinal Robert Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV after being elected
White smoke has billowed out of the roof of the Sistine Chapel earlier to show that Cardinals have agreed a new pope
Last updated 8th May 2025
American Cardinal Robert Prevost has become the new Pope after being elected by Cardinals and will be known as Pope Leo XIV (14th).
Pope Leo XIV emerged onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica as a packed St Peter’s Square erupted in cheers and applause.
Crowds had been joyously waving flags and chanting “Habemus Papam” – the Latin for “we have a Pope” – since white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel shortly after 5pm UK time on Thursday.
Shortly after 5pm UK time on Thursday, crowds in St Peter’s Square bore witness to history as white smoke billowed into the air from a specially-erected chimney at the chapel, in the age-old tradition.
Who is the new Pope?
Robert Prevost has been elected the first American pope in history and will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
He was Cardinal Robert Prevost, is from Chicago and is fairly young for a Pope, at the age of 69.
The first-ever American Pope appeared in front of jubilant crowds in Rome as the new leader of the Catholic Church.
Pope Leo is the 267th Pope, becoming the religious leader of Catholics across the globe and someone believed to be called to be the successor to St Peter, who was the first Pope.
The Conclave
Some 133 cardinals entered the chapel on Wednesday afternoon, with the secret conclave meeting getting under way behind closed doors shortly before 5pm UK time, as the group were cut off from all communications with the outside world.
The timing means it took cardinals only around 24 hours to elect their new leader.
The world now waits until the new pontiff appears on the balcony above St Peter's Square, which is when we'll first know the identity of the person elected to be the new Pope.