White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel yesterday, confirming the election of a new pope to succeed the late Pope Francis. Thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as bells rang out across the Vatican, marking the end of the historic conclave.
Cardinal Robert Prevost of Chicago, now Pope Leo the Fourteenth, has made history as the first North American elected to the papacy. He was chosen by 133 cardinals and formally introduced from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, where he delivered his first blessing. At 69, the new pope is widely regarded as a reformer and served for many years as a missionary in Peru, which he describes as his “second homeland.”
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Celebrating his first Mass in the Sistine Chapel, Pope Leo said he hoped his papacy would help bring light to the “dark nights of this world.” His election has drawn reactions worldwide, with US President Donald Trump calling it a “great honour.”
A moment of personal joy was also captured as the pope’s brother was seen jumping in celebration upon hearing the news, shouting, “Yes, it’s Rob!”
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