In his first address, Pope Leo said, “Peace be with you. Evil will not prevail; we are in the hands of God.”
1 / 7Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new Pope, and he has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. Prevost is the first American pontiff in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. (AP Photo)
2 / 7The 69-year-old Chicago native assumed his role as the 267th Pope on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening. In addition to his American and Vatican passports, he also has a Peruvian one. (Reuters Photo)
3 / 7In his first address, Pope Leo said, “Peace be with you. Evil will not prevail; we are in the hands of God. Without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light.” (Reuters Photo)
4 / 7He spoke warmly about his predecessor and thanked the cardinals for electing him as the new Pope. “Thank you, Pope Francis. Thank you to my cardinal brothers who chose me to be the successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel.” (AP Photo)
5 / 7Earlier, white smoke ascended from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating a new Pope had been elected. The smoke signal indicated the winner had received at least 89 votes from the total of 133 cardinals who participated in the conclave to elect the new Pope. On the second day of their conclave, cardinals elected the 267th Pope to lead the church, and the basilica’s bells rang out Thursday evening. (AP Photo)
6 / 7Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson posted his congratulations on X, writing, “Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago! Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.” (Reuters Photo)
7 / 7
