Pope Leo LIVE updates: Vatican Conclave elects Cardinal Robert Prevost, first pontiff born in the United States

Thanks for following along as we brought you the latest from the Catholic Church following the election of Pope Leo XIV.

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Peruvians were elated after a Catholic cardinal who spent years guiding the faithful in the South American country and who they see as one of their own was elected Pope.

Pope Leo XIV is a dual citizen of the United States and Peru, where he first served as a missionary and then as a bishop. That made him the first Pope from each country.

In Peru’s capital, Lima, the bells of the cathedral rang after Cardinal Robert Prevost was announced as Pope Francis’ successor. People outside the church quickly expressed their desire for a papal visit.

Faithful hold a photo of Pope Leo in front of the Cathedral of Chiclayo, Peru, where he served as bishop for several years.Credit: AP

“For us Peruvians, it is a source of pride that this is a Pope who represents our country,” said elementary school teacher Isabel Panez, who was near the cathedral when the news was announced. “We would like him to visit us here in Peru.”

Leo, standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time as Pope, addressed in Spanish the people of Chiclayo, which sits just 14 kilometres from Peru’s northern Pacific coast and is among the country’s most populous cities.

“Greetings... to all of you, and in particular, to my beloved diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith,” he said.

AP

“We are often worried about teaching doctrine, but we risk forgetting that our first duty is to communicate the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus.” The man who spoke those words in a 2023 interview, Cardinal Robert Prevost, is now leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

The church has chosen to follow its first Latin American pope, a former head of the Jesuit religious order, with a semi-Latin American pope, and former head of the Augustinian religious order. I say “semi” because, although American, Pope Leo XIV spent years in Peru and two thirds of his life in service outside the US. This has allowed him to overcome what was usually considered an insuperable obstacle for potential popes who are a citizen of the world’s chief superpower.

Pope Leo XIV appears on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica after his election, at the Vatican.Credit: AP

Many – including me – admired Francis’ strengths of humility, openness, emphasis on a pastoral church for the weak and the poor, and (to quote Pope John XXIII) on mercy rather than severity. For us, Leo is likely to prove an excellent successor, with a similar pastoral heart.

Francis, whom Australia’s Cardinal George Pell excoriated from beyond the grave in a famous anonymous letter, was actually not a theological liberal – for example he talked about women deacons but never introduced them. He just had different priorities. Leo looks as though he will take a similar stance and, if he lacks Francis’s personal charisma (yet to be seen), he brings other strengths in curial experience of governance.

Read more of Barney Zwartz’s opinion piece on what you need to know about Pope Leo here.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has congratulated Pope Leo on his appointment.

He said Taiwan hoped to continue working with the Vatican to pursue peace, justice and religious freedom, the island’s foreign ministry said on Friday.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Lai had sent his congratulatory message via its embassy to the Vatican.

President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te.Credit: AP

Lai “stressed that Taiwan looks forward to continuing to work with the Holy See to jointly pursue peace, justice, religious freedom, solidarity, fraternity, and human dignity”, the statement said.

“Taiwan will continue to promote various exchanges and co-operation with the Holy See, to further strengthen bilateral relations, and to make more contributions to the world together with the Holy See.”

The Vatican is one of only 12 countries to retain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan.

China has yet to comment on the U.S.-born Leo’s appointment.

Reuters

US media outlet ABC News has spoken with one of Pope Leo’s brothers John Prevost, who says the news of his brother’s appointment has not yet sunk in.

“It’s kind of surreal. Initial [feeling] is its great pride,” he said.

“This is an awesome thing in the sense that the first – not only Pope – but the first American Pope, Pope from Chicago, and a relative.”

Americans celebrate the news of Pope Leo’s election.Credit: Getty

Speaking about his brother’s character, Prevost said Pope Leo will look out for those who are disenfranchised, poor, and without a voice.

“[He is] a regular run-of-the-mill person … I think he will follow in [the steps] of Pope Francis,” he said.

New York’s Empire State Building has been lit up with hues of gold and white to honour the appointment of the first American Pope – Pope Leo XIV.

US Cardinal Seán O’Malley has taken to his blog site to join the church in rejoicing and giving thanks for the “gift God has given to the church in Pope Leo XIV”.

O’Malley – who turned 80 in June and was ineligible to vote in the conclave due to his age – said he invites Catholics across the globe to join in unity and support of the new Holy Father.

US flags wave in the air as Catholics celebrated Pope election.Credit: Bloomberg

“Christ has told us that the hallmark of discipleship is the love we have for each other,” he wrote.

“In this Jubilee Year, the church is inviting us to be pilgrims of hope, walking together with a special compassion and love for those who are suffering and alone. God in his providence has given us Pope Leo XIV to lead us on this journey of hope.”

The following is the first full speech of Pope Leo XIV, given from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica shortly after his election as the leader of the Catholic Church, starting in Italian:

“Peace be with all of you!

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your heart, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole earth. Peace be with you!

This is the peace of the Risen Christ, an unarmed and disarming peace, humble and persevering. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still have in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome!

The pope who blessed Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the entire world, that Easter morning.

Continue reading Pope Leo’s translated speech in full here.

Reuters

Former US President Joe Biden has told CNN the election of an American Pope is not surprising, with the result pleasing him “a great deal”.

“He was a good friend of Francis. I think he’s going to keep moving the church in the direction to be more ecumenical and reaching out,” he said.

John F. Kennedy and Joe Biden have so far been the only two Catholic US presidents.Credit: AP

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher appeared on ABC News Breakfast this morning after staying up throughout the night waiting to see white smoke billowing out of the chimney from the Sistine Chapel.

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher.Credit: James Alcock

Fisher welcomed the news of the election and said Pope Leo was a man with a “missionary heart” who has devoted his life to bringing people to the gospel.

“I think people will find him a Pope for the whole world, for people of all different languages and cultures and backgrounds, and a great unifier,” he said.

“He’s a bridge builder. He’s someone who will bring people together.”