Robert Prevost is the new Catholic Pope, elected by the cardinals today, Thursday, May 8. He will be called Pope Leo XIV.

Read Also: Breaking: White smoke signals new pope elected

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago, Illinois, the United States is the first ever pope from the United States.

Earlier, white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signalling that cardinals locked inside have elected a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

Thousands of pilgrims and curious onlookers in St Peter’s Square cheered and applauded as the smoke appeared and bells began to ring, indicating the 2,000-year-old institution has its 267th pope.

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