Surprise choice as new pope elected

White smoke emerged from the Vatican signifying a new pope had been chosen – but it was not the candidate people were expecting.

The pope has been elected and in a surprise decision, it’s an American.

Leo will be the first ever US-born pope.

White smoke emerged from the roof of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican signifying that a new pope had been chosen at around 6pm on Thursday, Rome time (2am, Friday AEST).

The election follows the death of Pope Francis last month.

“Habemus Papam” (“we have a pope), said Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberttim in Latin from the Vatican balcony as he announced that Robert Prevost, 69, will lead the Catholic Church.

The Chicago native will take the name Pope Leo XIV.

EXPLAINER: Why do popes change their names?

Speaking in Italian, Pope Leo’s first words were “peace be with you”.

He thanked his predecessor Francis and said he wanted to “build bridges”. He did not speak in English.

“I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you,” he said.

This photograph shows white smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signalling that cardinals elected a new pope during their conclave in the Vatican on May 8, 2025. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost addresses the crowd on the main central loggia balcony overlooking St Peter's Square on May 08, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

The new pope is seen as a unity candidate. For instance, he is likely to follow in Francis’ footsteps when it comes to reaching out to and advocating for migrants and the poor. But on some issues Leo is more conservative. He is against the ordination of women and criticised Francis’ more liberal views towards homosexuality.

Pope Leo XIV is seen as a unity candidate. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost in 2023. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File)

Surprise choice

Prevost beat out competition from Pietro Parolin of Italy who was seen as the favourite.

His success will be seen as a surprise due to Americans often being overlooked for the head of the Catholic Church because of the US’ sheer power on the world stage in other arenas.

However, the American has Italian, French, and Spanish roots with a commentator in Italian newspaper La Repubblica calling him “The least American of the Americans”.

There’s also the fact Leo is a dual citizen. He olds a passport from Peru where he was a missionary for several years. He then moved into senior Vatican roles.

US citizens react after newly elected Pope Leo XIV. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP)

‘What excitement’ says Trump

US President Donald Trump was one of the first to congratulate Leo.

“It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope,” he stated.

“What excitement, and what a great honour for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”

Mr Trump posted an AI image on social media of him dressed as a pope like character in recent days. It was a move that led some Catholics to admonish him for not respecting the sanctity of the role.

Cardinals react from a balcony of the St Peter's Basilica, as the new pope makes his first appearance. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP)

133 cardinals decided on the new pope. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Cheers in St Peters Square

Bells rang out across St Peter’s Square at the heart of the Vatican when the white smoke was seen.

On a sunny day in the Holy See, thousands of people cheered when it was clear a new pontiff had been elected.

The cardinals whose job it was to elect a new pope took four rounds to choose a successor.

At around 9pm on Wednesday, black wisps first emerged from the chimney signalling a vote had taken place but there was no majority. That occurred twice more over the last 24 hours until white smoke then emerged.

The cardinals held one final mass in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Wednesday before sealing themselves away to elect the new head of the Catholic Church.

A total of 133 cardinals from five continents were sequestered inside the Vatican to take part in the conclave, the top secret voting process to select a successor to Francis who had a 12-year papacy.

Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, right, hugs Cardinal Celestino Braco in St Peter's Square after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Among them was Australia’s representative, Ukrainian-born cardinal Mykola Bychok, who is based in Melbourne and is the youngest member of the Sacred College of Cardinals at 45.

During a pre-conclave mass, the dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, used his homily to urge his fellow cardinals to select a pope “whom the church and humanity need at this difficult, complex and tormented turning point in history”.

He also said that they should look to “maintain the unity of the church,” although a “unity that does not mean uniformity, but a firm and profound communion in diversity, provided that full fidelity to the Gospel is maintained”.

In a time of geopolitical uncertainty, the new pope faces diplomatic balancing acts, as well as Church infighting, the continued fallout from the clerical child abuse scandal, and – in the West – increasingly empty pews.

Originally published as Surprise choice as new pope elected