In an unprecedented moment, U.S. Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the first American pope. White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel at 6:08 PM, setting off bells and cheers across St. Peter’s Square. The 69-year-old has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. The conclave reached a decision on its first full day of voting, marking a rare consensus among the 133 electors. The news has been met with global excitement and reverence. Prevost is praised as a "gentle, profound man of God" by peers and leaders alike.
