White smoke rose from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel's chimney on Thursday, May 8, signaling the election of a new pope after two days of a highly secretive voting process. The new Pope is 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost from the United States of America. His papal name is Leo XIV. He is the first pontiff from the US. The announcement was met with cheers and applause from the thousands of faithful who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square, as bells tolled from the iconic basilica, confirming that the 133 cardinal electors had reached at least a two-thirds majority decision on the successor of Pope Francis. ALSO READ: Black Smoke: No pope elected on first day of conclave in Vatican The conclave, held in strict secrecy since Wednesday, brought together red-robed cardinals from across the globe to choose the next spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Throughout the process, the cardinals were completely cut off from the outside world, forbidden from leaving or communicating as they cast their ballots in the ornate confines of the Vatican. The new pope appeared at the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. From there, he delivered his first public message.
