Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, has been named the new pope, and his official papal name will be Pope Leo the Fourteenth. The Chicago-born Prevost becomes the first pope to ever come from the United States.

The new pope made his first public appearance to impart a blessing over the crowd gathered outside. In his opening words, Pope Leo XIV said, "Peace be with you."

The long history of popes named "Leo" is reportedly connected to Catholic teaching on social justice, especially regarding the rights of workers.

History's first American pope recalled in his remarks that he was part of the Augustinian religious order, but that he was a Christian above all, “So we can all walk together.” He's also a naturalized Peruvian citizen who lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop.

Pope Leo XIV spoke to the crowd in Italian and Spanish, but not English. "Humanity needs Christ as a bridge, to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges," he said.

He went on to recite the "Hail Mary" as the enormous crowd of 40,000 joined him.

HOW THE PROCESS WORKED

The world's Roman Catholic cardinals began the process of selecting the next pope at the Vatican earlier this week.

A total of 133 cardinals from 70 countries gathered in Rome for the papal conclave, sequestering themselves behind the Vatican's medieval walls with no outside communication as they sought to elect the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

The cardinals took part in a mass in St. Peter's Cathedral before going to the Sistine Chapel to begin the voting. The electors cast paper ballots, and voting continued until one candidate received a two-thirds majority, at least 89 votes.

After no one was elected on the first few rounds of voting, black smoke had been seen coming from the Sistine Chapel chimney for two days. But it wasn't long before the Catholic faithful were greeted with the white smoke, which signified their new leader had been chosen.

Pope Leo XIV will be the successor to Pope Francis, who died in April at the age of 88. Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Trump Grants Federal Workers Two Additional Christmas Holidays

America Fest 2025: Erika Kirk Endorses 'My Husband's Friend' JD Vance for President

Brent Bozell Confirmed as US Ambassador to South Africa

Jury Quickly Convicts Judge Who Helped Illegal Migrant Escape ICE

Feds Estimate Somali-Linked Fraud in Walz's Minnesota Could Top $9 Billion

Trump SUSPENDS 'Green Card Lottery' after Program Let Brown University–MIT Shooting Suspect Enter the US

Brown, MIT Shooter Found Dead for Days in NH Storage Unit; Motive Still a Mystery

House Passes Bill to Criminalize Transgender Mutilation of Children

November Inflation Falls to 2.7%, Lower than Expected: 'This Is Good News for Wall Street; It’s Good News for Main Street'

MOVIEGUIDE's Review of the New Animated Film: DAVID

Massachusetts Drops Controversial Gender Ideology Mandate for Licensing Foster Care Parents

Nearly 40% of Women Suffer Severe Grief for Years after Abortion, Miscarriage: Study

Former Pfizer Vice President: COVID Shots Were 'Designed to Cause Injury,' Reduce Fertility

Dutch Sheets Shares a Warning from the US National Counterterrorism Center

Venezuela: Trump's Pressure Campaign and Maduro's Fury

President Trump Charts Accomplishments and Previews Future Policies during His Primetime Address

Secretary Hegseth and Franklin Graham Preach Gospel at Pentagon Christmas Service: 'Jesus Took Our Shame'

'Unsafe, Needless, Irreversible': HHS Sec. Kennedy Takes Sweeping Action to Reverse Biden-Era Policies on So-Called 'Gender Affirming Care'

Hobby Lobby Giving Away Half a Million Copies of Book Defending Biblical Christmas Story [Video]

Geothermal Blind Power Site Discovered in Nevada