Leo XIV has been elected as the new Pope

Robert Francis Prevost has become the 267th person to become Pope.

A new Pope has been chosen as leader of the Catholic Church.

Robert Francis Prevost, aged 69, is the first North American to be elected to the role and he will be known as Pope Leo XIV.

Leo XIV was elected by a group of senior priests called cardinals after Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday 2025..

The world knew that a new Pope had been chosen when, following the tradition, white smoke billowed from a Vatican chimney.

Speaking to a crowd of 40,000 people in St Peter's Square in the Vatican City, Pope Leo XIV brought a "greeting of peace", and encouraged people to "help us, and help each other, build bridges".

Who is Pope Leo XIV?

Pope Leo XIV gave his first speech as Pope from a balcony overlooking St Peter's Square in the Vatican, in front of 40,000 people

Pope Leo XIV was born in Chicago in the United States in 1955.

"I was born in the United States... But my grandparents were all immigrants, French, Spanish... I was raised in a very Catholic family, both of my parents were very engaged," he said.

He served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982 before moving to work in Peru in South America three years later.

He stayed there for many years gaining Peruvian nationality, and becoming an Archbishop.

In his first speech as Pope he spoke in Italian, but also spoke partly in Spanish as a nod to Peru.

"Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop," he said.

What does the Pope do?

Pope Francis delivering a blessing in St Peter's Square in 2023.

The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and leads 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world.

Part of the Pope's duties involve giving mass and holding regular appointments at the Vatican.

These include a weekly blessing for tourists and pilgrims every Sunday from the window of his private study overlooking St Peter's Square.

The Pope also leads the religious celebrations of all the major Catholic festivals of the year, including Christmas and Easter.

At least once every five years the Pope must meet with more than 5,000 bishops from around the world - that's roughly 1,000 a year, or 20 a week.

The Pope also travels around the world visiting churches and communities to offer blessings and meet believers.

The Pope also meets world leaders, celebrities, and members of royal families.

Why does the Pope change his name?

Pope Leo giving his first speech as Pope

When a Pope is elected, he chooses a papal name as part of his new role.

Robert Prevost, the new Pope, has chosen the papal name of Leo XIV.

The letters XIV after his name are actually the Roman numbers for 14, as he is the 14th Pope to choose the name Leo, and the first in more than 100 years.

Popes have the freedom to choose any name they want, but many choose names with significance, such as a saint's name, the name of a previous Pope, or a name that has personal or religious meaning.

World leaders send congratulations

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has wished Pope Leo congratulations

Leaders from around the world have been offering their congratulations to Pope Leo XIV.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his election "is a deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and globally, and begins a new chapter for the leadership of the Church and in the world."

US President Donald Trump has called it a "great honour" to have a Pope from the USA.

Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, described Pope Leo as Peruvian "by choice and conviction". "The pope is Peruvian; God loves Peru," she added.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the election an "historic moment" for the Catholic Church, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed hope that Pope Leo would "use his voice on the global stage to promote peace, human dignity and unity."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered his congratulations to the new Pope, and expressed his hope for the Vatican's "continued moral and spiritual support" and Russian President Vladimir Putin wished the new Pope "success".