Pope Leo XIV was elected as the Catholic Church's 267th leader on Thursday.
The temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday evening local time, signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.
American Cardinal Robert Prevost was shortly thereafter announced as the 267th pontiff. He chose the name Leo XIV, a senior cardinal deacon announced.
The 69-year-old Chicago native is the first American pope and is seen as a diplomat in the church.
"This is the first greeting of the risen Christ. May the peace be with you," Leo said in Italian in his first remarks as pope. "This is the peace of the risen Christ."
Tune in to "The American Pope: Leo XIV," a special edition of "20/20," streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.
Pietro Parolin, the cardinal secretary of state, speaks to other cardinals in the Pauline Chapel to prepare the clergymen for procession toward the Sistine Chapel.
Parolin has been rumored to be a front-runner for the papacy.
The official start of the papal conclave to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church is about to begin.
The 133 voting cardinals are expected to take their oaths at the Sistine Chapel at about 4:30 p.m. following a procession from the Pauline Chapel in reverse seniority.
The master of ceremony will then oversee the official start of the conclave at 5 p.m.
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, released one last message before he entered the dome of Santa Maria for the start of the papal conclave.
Dolan asked for prayers as the cardinals gather to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church.
"I won't be able to talk to you until you see the white smoke," Dolan said in the video, posted to X.
Cardinals preparing for the beginning of the conclave on Wednesday shared messages on social media before going into lockdown in the Vatican until the next pope is chosen.
Cardinal Natalio Chomali from Chile posted a video of himself hand washing his white shirt "to be impeccable for the conclave.”
American Cardinal Joseph Tobin posted prayers to X asking for support "as we gather in conclave to discern the Holy Spirit’s choice for the next Bishop of Rome," and later asking for “the Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern God’s will."
In a video message on a Filipino Catholic Facebook page, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle -- considered a frontrunner to be the next pope -- asked: "Who will you trust? People give their trust depending on their personal relationship. The only one you can trust is God. Give your trust to God who will direct you to the right path."
Another Filipino, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, wrote on his Facebook page, "SIGNING OFF STARTING TOMORROW EVENING.”
“How long before the white smoke comes out? That will be up to the Lord," David wrote.
-ABC News’ Camilla Alcini
