White smoke puffed out of the chimney stack of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City at 18.10 yesterday, Thursday May 8 to inform the waiting world that a new pope had been chosen.
Photo of Pope Leo XIV [Photo courtesy of Getty Images]
After four votes the 133 cardinals from all over the world had made their decision. The new pope was to be Robert Prevost from Chicago, the first ever pope from the USA. He had chosen the name Leo. He will be Pope Leo XIV.
Background
Leo XIV is young, just 69. He was born in Chicago (Illinois) to immigrant parents, a Franco-Italian father and a mother with Spanish roots.
He served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982.
He then moved to Peru in South America three years later aged 30 to be a missionary.
Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd in St Peter's Square [Vatican News]
He stayed in Peru for many years gaining Peruvian nationality, and becoming Archbishop of his church.
What did he have to say to the faithful waiting in St Peter's Square, Vatican City, Rome?
In his first speech as pope, Pope Leo XIV stepped onto a balcony in front of a crowd of 40,000 people in St Peter's Square in the Vatican and brought a "greeting of peace", and encouraged people to "Help us, and help each other, build bridges," as well as paying tribute to Pope Francis.
[Image courtesy of NBC News]
Leo XIV spoke in Italian, but he delivered part of his address in Spanish as a nod to Peru.
"Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop," he said.
Press and media:
In pictures: A new pope is chosen - CNN
León XIV: ¿por qué Robert Francis Prevost ha elegido ese nombre para ser Papa y cuántos más ha habido en toda la historia del Vaticano? - AS.com
Pope Leo XIV live: New American pontiff Robert Prevost to hold first Mass amid claims he’s ‘anti-Trump’ - MSN / The Independent
Pope Leo XIV: Who is the new Pope? - BBC Newsround
Robert Prevost elected as first American pope and takes the name Leo XIV | CNN
© Paul Whitelock
Pictures:
Getty Images, NBC News, Vatican News
With thanks to:
AS, BBC, CBBC, CNN, MSN, NBC News, The Independent, Vatican News, Wikipedia
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