Cardinal Robert Prevost elected as new Pope, will take the name Leo XIV; first American pope in history

VATICAN CITY: Cardinal Robert Prevost, aged 69, has been elected as the new Pope of the global Catholic Church, becoming the first American to hold the position. He will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

The election of the new Pope was confirmed when white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the third round of voting. More than 45,000 people had gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear the news of the newly elected Pope.

The Vatican had earlier indicated that the results of the voting rounds would be announced at different intervals — the first at 10:30 AM, the second after 12 PM, the third at 5:30 PM, and the fourth at 7 PM (local time). In the first two rounds, black smoke had emerged from the chimney, indicating no decision had been made. A total of 133 Cardinals with voting rights participated in the conclave, and a candidate needed at least 89 votes to secure the two-thirds majority required for election. Both voting and non-voting Cardinals attended the mass offered yesterday at 10 AM (IST) at St. Peter’s Basilica.