Leo XIV is the new pope

At the Vatican, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday, May 8, at just after 4pm GMT and according to the announcement by the Cardinal Protodeacon, American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost becomes Pope Leo XIV.

He succeeds Francis, who died on April 21.

Leo XIV’s first papal address is a powerful call to peace, fraternity and responsibility, hailed Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday.

“Italy looks with respect and hope on its spiritual heritage, which follows in the footsteps of Pope Francis”, she wrote on X.

The new pope is the first pontiff from the United States.