Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. of the United States has been elected the 267th Pope and has stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as Pope Leo XIV.

Born in 1955 in Chicago, Illinois, the 69-year-old becomes the first US-born Pope in history. He is a past provincial prior for the Augustinian Province in Chicago and also previously served as a missionary in Peru.

It has been a long while since the Church has had a Pope taking the name of Leo, the last being Pope Leo XIII, elected in 1878 and serving until his death in 1903.

An emotional Prevost hesitated at first before speaking as the crowd cheered him on.

"We still have the sound in our ears of the weak voice of Pope Francis who was blessing Rome here," he said, speaking in Italian.

"Giving his blessing to the world on that day of Easter Sunday. Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves everyone. Evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. So without fear, united, hand in hand, with God in ourselves, we go forward."

He added: "We are disciples of Christ … the world needs his light. Humanity needs him."

Leo then thanked his predecessor.

"May we all build bridges with dialogue … so that we can all be one people in peace. Thank you, Pope Francis."

In his first comments in Italian, Pope Leo XIV says he wants this message of peace to “enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are.”

Paying tribute to Pope Francis, he urges faithful to “move forward, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other.”

He also thanks fellow cardinals for choosing him for the role.

In his first comments, the new pope calls for the light of Christ to serve “as the bridge” to God’s love.

He recalls the words of St Augustine:

For you I am a bishop; but with you I am a Christian.
He also says a few words addressed to the church of Rome, and thanks his (now former) diocese in Chiclayo in Peru.

He leads the faithful in St Peter’s Square in prayer, with Ave Maria.