Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected as pope on Thursday, the first time an American has been selected as pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.
Prevost, 69, chose the papal name Leo XIV.
A Chicago native who spent much of his ministry in Peru, Prevost was chosen on the second day and fourth ballot of the cardinals' conclave in Vatican City.
His election was announced by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti more than an hour after cardinals signaled his election with plumes of white smoke billowing from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.
Pope Leo, who is a member of the Augustinian Order, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where he addressed a large crowd gathered in the huge square below in both Italian and Spanish. He did not speak in English.
The prior pontiff, Pope Francis, died April 21 at age 88.
