The Catholic Church has a new leader, with the Augustinian cardinal Robert Prevost elected as Pope Leo XIV, his chosen name as Bishop of Rome. He is the first American pope and the first of African descent since the fifth century.

White smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The smoke indicates that a candidate has secured the necessary two-thirds majority —at least 89 of the 133 voting cardinals—during the secretive conclave.