Pope Leo XIV calls for end to wars in Ukraine, Gaza
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+.
Latest headlines:
Who are the top contenders to be the next pope? Experts weigh in
The selection process for a new pope, which will commence on Wednesday, will begin when all cardinals under the age of 80 who are eligible to participate enter the secret conclave inside the Sistine Chapel to choose the next pontiff.
Father James Martin, a papal contributor to ABC News, said cardinals will be looking for "someone who is holy, someone who is a good evangelizer who can proclaim the gospel and someone who is a good manager."
Any baptized Catholic male is eligible to take Francis' place, but Miles Pattenden, historian of the Catholic Church at Oxford University, said Pietro Parolin, the cardinal secretary of state, and Luis Tagle, the archbishop of Manila in the Philippines, are the main front-runners.
-ABC News' Megan Forrester
Cardinal Dolan asks Americans for their prayers ahead of conclave
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, said in a post to X on Wednesday that he and the other North American cardinals will bring the “intentions” of regional Catholics to the conclave.
“Please keep us in your prayers,” Dolan wrote.
Cardinals told to prepare for 'highest human' responsibility
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, reminded his fellow cardinals on Wednesday that they were about to undertake "an act of the highest human and ecclesial responsibility" in voting for a new pope.
"This is a human act for which every personal consideration must be set aside, keeping in mind and heart only the God of Jesus Christ and the good of the Church and of humanity," Re said in a homily during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
But, he said, the election of a new pontiff also comes at a "difficult and complex turning point in history."
"Today's world expects much from the Church regarding the safeguarding of those fundamental human and spiritual values without which human coexistence will not be better nor bring good to future generations," Re said.
Cardinals celebrate Mass ahead of conclave
The Cardinals' Mass began in St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning ahead of the papal conclave.
The mass, which was being broadcast live around St. Peter's Square was expected to last until 11:30 a.m. local time.
Later on Wednesday, the 133 voting cardinals will enter the Pauline Chapel at approximately 4:15 p.m. before a procession into the Sistine Chapel where they take the oath at around 4:30 p.m.