Cardinal Robert Prevost announced as first American pope, taking name Leo XIV

The Vatican announced the predetermination of Pope Leo XIV, the archetypal American pope successful the past of the Catholic Church, soon aft achromatic fume began pouring from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel connected Thursday.

Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti announced Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost's predetermination arsenic pope to the thousands of faithful who descended connected St. Peter's Square aft the 133 voting cardinals deliberated successful the Sistine Chapel for astir 24 hours.

Prevost, a 69-year-old Augustinian, appeared connected the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica wearing the accepted reddish cape of the papacy — a cape that Pope Francis had chosen not to deterioration aft his predetermination successful 2013.

His archetypal words arsenic pope were "Peace beryllium with you," which helium said successful Italian, and delivered a connection to the faithful gathering bridges, bid and dialog "without fear." Prevost past switched to Spanish to callback his years arsenic a missionary and aboriginal archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru. He did not present immoderate words successful English.

LIVE UPDATES: CARDINAL ROBERT PREVOST ANNOUNCED AS FIRST AMERICAN POPE, TAKING NAME LEO XIV

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV, Cardinal Robert Prevost of the U.S., appears connected the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica astatine the Vatican connected Thursday. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)

Prevost succeeds the precocious Pope Francis, who died astatine property 88 connected April 21 pursuing wellness challenges.

Prevost, whose views are adjacent to those that Francis held, thanked his predecessor successful his remarks.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears connected the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica astatine the Vatican connected Thursday. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Francis brought Prevost to the Vatican successful 2023 to service arsenic the almighty caput of the bureau that vets bishop nominations from astir the world, 1 of the astir important jobs successful the Catholic Church. As a result, Prevost had a prominence going into the conclave that fewer different cardinals have.

Prevost was calved connected Sept. 14, 1955, successful Chicago. He is besides a national of Peru, wherever helium lived for years arsenic a missionary and aboriginal arsenic an archbishop.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science successful Mathematics from Villanova University successful 1977 earlier taking his solemn vows and studying theology astatine the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago successful 1982.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.