United Kingdom, May 8 -- Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the new Pope.

The 69-year-old cardinal was officially chosen as the next leader of the Catholic church on Thursday (08.05.25) when white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel at just after 5pm, and made history in the process as the first American to be elected into the position.

Senior cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced the news on St Peter's balcony in Vatican City as he proclaimed: "Habemus papam", which is a Latin term meaning "We have a pope".

The Chicago native will be known as Leo XIV and made his first public address from the balcony as he told the crowds that his predecessor Pope Francis - who died in April at the age of 88 - was "courageous and blessed Rom...