US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected the new Pope on Thursday (local time), and has chosen the name Leo XIV.
The 133 cardinal electors have elected the 267th Roman Pontiff shortly after smoke came out of the chimney installed on the Sistine Chapel.
This was announced on the Loggia of Blessings in St. Peter's Basilica by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti, with the formula “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum, habemus Papam.”
The pontiff was elected on the fourth ballot, after the black smoke of Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.
“Peace be with you all,” were the first words of Pope Leo XIV.
“Thank you, Pope Francis and the cardinals who chose me. This is the first greeting of the risen Christ. I would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families. To all peoples, all the earth, peace be with you. Disarming, humble, persevering peace. We still keep in our ears the weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome,” he said, adding that the Church “is always close to those who suffer. A church that always seeks peace, charity.”
“We must all walk together, always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries. I am a son of St. Augustine. We must be a missionary Church that builds bridges and is ready to receive all those in need, like this square with open arms,” he added.
“Help us also to build bridges with dialogue and encounter, to be one people, to be at peace,” he said. “We are all in the hands of God. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward: we are disciples of Christ, Christ precedes us, the world needs his light. (Agenzia Nova)
