Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, taking on the papal title Pope Leo XIV.

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The announcement came Thursday evening after white smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, confirming that a decision had been reached by the College of Cardinals. Moments later, Pope Leo XIV stepped out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet thousands of faithful gathered in the square.

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Prevost, a Chicago-born cleric who currently heads the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, holds dual citizenship in the United States and Peru. His years of missionary work and leadership in Latin America have shaped his global pastoral perspective, a quality many say is needed for the Church’s next chapter.

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The papal conclave began with a round of inconclusive voting on Wednesday, indicated by black smoke from the chapel’s chimney. By Thursday night, the long-anticipated decision drew over 45,000 people to St. Peter’s Square, where they waited anxiously past 9 p.m. for the new pontiff’s first appearance.

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Among the many present was Deacon Nicholas Nkoronko from Tanzania. In an interview with Vatican News, he reflected on the significance of the moment: “Our role here is to pray and to join with other Christians, other Catholics, to pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the whole process.”

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“Wherever the new Pope comes from,” he added, “whether it’s Africa, Asia, America, what we need is we need a holy Pope. We need a Pope who will guide the Church and will be the pastor of the Church.”

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This historic moment follows the funeral of Pope Francis, who was laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, at St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one under Pope Leo XIV.

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