Dhaka, May 9 -- Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the surprise choice to be the new leader of the Catholic Church, becoming the first US pope and taking the name Leo XIV.

A long-time missionary in Latin America, Pope Leo appeared on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica after white smoke billowed from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. That signified the 133 cardinal electors had chosen him as a successor to Francis, who died last month, reports Reuters.

"Peace be with you all," he told the cheering crowd, speaking in fluent Italian.

Prevost, 69 and originally from Chicago, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and has dual Peruvian nationality. He became a cardinal only in 2023.

The appointment was welcomed b...