Pope Leo XIV will be the Catholic Church's 267th leader.
VATICAN CITY -- 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."
(The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.)
Pope Leo XIV - history-making, the first American Pope. Now, David Muir reports from the Vatican in the breaking, new "20/20" special edition. Watch the premiere of "The American Pope | Leo XIV" tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Stream on Hulu and Disney+
That's where a cardinal will soon emerge to "to proclaim a new pope to Rome and to the world."
There is incredible excitement - the crowd is roaring, and some are shouting "hallelujah!"
Thousands of people have gathered in Vatican Square to witness the first appearance of the newly elected pope.
White smoke was released from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday evening, signifying that the 133 voting cardinals reached a two-thirds majority to chose the next leader of the Catholic Church.
Crowds cheered as the smoke emerged and the bells of St. Peter's Basilica rang.
The new pope is expected to address the crowd next to the iconic red velvet curtains lining the central balcony of the basilica.
The conclave to elect the 267th pope ended after the second day of voting on Thursday, marking one of the shortest conclaves in history.
There are only two other instances in recent history where a pontiff was elected after only two days of voting, first for Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and the second for Pope Francis in 2013.
White smoke was seen emanating from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a two-thirds vote has been reached to elect the new pope.
Thousands of people cheered in Vatican Square when the smoke appeared.
