Vatican City: “Peace be with all you,” were the first words of Pope Leo XIV as he appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica Thursday evening, shortly after being elected as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The new Pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States, was chosen on the second day of the conclave, becoming the first American-born Pontiff in the Church’s history.
Thunderous applause, tears, and chants of “Viva il Papa!” echoed across St. Peter’s Square as tens of thousands of pilgrims and faithful welcomed the successor to Pope Francis. Church bells rang out across Rome as the crowd fell silent to hear his blessing and opening remarks.
“Peace be with all you,” Pope Leo XIV said, offering a brief but profound message rooted in Christ’s own words to his disciples, a signal of unity, healing, and humility.
The new Pope is expected to celebrate his inaugural Mass in the coming days and meet with Vatican leadership to set the tone for his papacy, which observers anticipate will carry forward many of the reforms of his predecessor while deepening the Church’s missionary, pastoral, and global diplomatic roles.
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