Robert Prevost of the US, has been chosen as the new pope, following a secretive conclave to elect the next head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. He is the first American pontiff in history.
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Some 133 cardinal electors from five continents gathered this week at the Vatican to pick a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month after a 12-year-long papacy.
The crowd in St Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as white smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling the election of a new pope.
Priests made the sign of the cross and nuns wept as the crowd shouted, “Viva il papa!” after the white smoke wafted into the late afternoon sky.
The smoke signal means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals taking part in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
People react to the white smoke from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has been elected at the Vatican on Saturday. Photo: Reuters
Pope Francis died on April 21 after ruling the 1.4-billion member church for 12 years. During his reign he sought to open up the staid institution to the modern world, enacting a range of reforms and allowing debate on divisive issues such as women’s ordination and better inclusion of LGBTQ Catholics.
