VATICAN CITY — White smoke appeared from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday after cardinals elected Robert Prevost as the first American-born pope of the Catholic Church.
The smoke signaled that someone had secured at least 89 votes from the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
While the crowd in St. Peter’s Square began celebrating the news, they were still waiting to hear the name of the 267th pope, which was announced soon after.
Originally from Chicago, Prevost is the head of the church's Dicastery for Bishops. The powerful position means he oversees the selection of new bishops.
Prevost is actually a dual citizen, holding nationality in both the U.S. and Peru, where he served for many years.
Prevost will be known as Pope Leo XIV.
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