TRANSCRIPT
(Sound of bells ringing)
White smoke rose above the Vatican, bells rang out across St Peter’s Square, and a hush fell over the crowd of tens of thousands gathered in the plaza.
Then came the announcement the world has been waiting for:
"I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope."
The announcement was made by French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti.
Roughly 70 minutes later, Pope Leo stepped onto the central balcony and waved to the crowd.
(The sound of cheers)
He then delivered his first words as pontiff.
"'Peace be with all you. ... Beloved brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the risen Christ, the Good Shepherd, who gave his life for God's flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all peoples, to all the earth, peace be with you."
He also paid tribute to the late Pope Francis - and called for unity.
"Allow me to follow up on that same blessing. God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail. We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and each other, let us go forward. ... Help us too, then each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people, always in peace. Thank you to Pope Francis!"
Thousands of faithful had gathered in the square, including visitors from across the world.
Some shared their thoughts with SBS News.
Person 1: "Amazing, it was meant to be yes."
SBS: "What was that experience like, seeing it?"
Person 1: "Undescribable, I can't even describe. I have goosebumps."
SBS: "As an American, how are you feeling about the first American?"
Person 2: "I am thrilled, I am absolutely ecstatic. It is so wonderful. "I certainly think it will be be very interesting to see his relationship with Trump and how it will affect his reign as Pope."
So who is Pope Leo the Fourteenth?
The 69-year-old was given the birth name Robert Francis Prevost - and he has selected the name Leo to mark his elevation to the role of Pope.
The last pope to use the name Leo was Pope Leo XIII, who led the Catholic Church between 1878 and 1903 - and famously wrote the encyclical Rerum Novarum, which translates to "On Revolutionary Changes".
A member of the Augustinian order, Robert Prevost spent decades as a missionary in Peru before being appointed Bishop of the Peruvian city of Chiclayo by Pope Francis in 2015.
In 2023, Pope Francis brought him to Rome to lead the influential office that oversees the appointment of bishops - what's called the Dicastery for Bishops.
And in September 2024, Francis made him a cardinal.
Religious scholars say his Latin American ties and global experience has helped make him to create a bridge between cultures.
Barbara Reid is President of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
"We didn't think that the cardinal electors would lean toward choosing an American, but of course Pope Leo XIV, as Father John just said, has the heart of a Peruvian as well and has deeply endeared himelf to the church in Latin America and has exercised his ministry these last several years; on behalf of the whole world church while he's been in Rome."
Pope Leo holds dual citizenship in the U-S and Peru, speaks multiple languages, including Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
That has helped him to establish links with the French, Italian, and Latin American communities over decades of ministry and mission work.
Here in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese released a statement, inviting the pontiff to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress, which will be hosted here in 2028.
He also had this to say:
"This is a moment, which will bring joy and hope to Catholics everywhere. May the papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity."
Mr Albanese says his government will continue its strong relationship with the Holy See.
The Australian Catholic community also welcomed Pope Leo.
Archbishop Timothy Costello is the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
He says the new pope as approachable and spiritually grounded, shaped by his missionary work in Peru, and said he would be warmly received across the global Catholic community.
US President Donald Trump has also responded to the election of Robert Prevost as the new pontiff.
"It's such a great honour ... I mean what greater honour could there be and we were a little bit surprised and very happy. It's just a great, absolutely great honour."
Former US President Barack Obama also offered his congratulations, as global leaders acknowledged the historic moment on social media.
In Chicago, Father Gregory Sakowicz announced the news to his congregation at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
"Great news, we have a new Pope. ... The brand new Holy Father, the brand new Pope is American born cardinal, now pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, born on the south side of Chicago. ... Very interesting, an American pope. First time in the history of The Church, our prayers are with our new Holy Father, Leo the 14th."
Father Michael Liliedahl in San Francisco says he was stunned by the announcement.
"I think shocking is the right word. I was certainly shocked, and I'd say it took a second or two for it to kind of hit me. I heard his name in Latin, the Roberto Francisco, and in my mind I'm thinking 'Robert Francis, isn't that the American who was born in Chicago? No, it is. Oh my gosh, we have an American pope.'"
In Paris, American tourist Anne Dietrich reflected on the kind of leadership the Church needs now.
"We would love to see somebody who embodies the same spirit as the as the Pope who recently passed, somebody who really says, as he did a lot, who am I to judge, right? Somebody who really is just showing love. I don't know what else to say. Love and a real broad spirituality that envelopes everybody."
And back in Milwaukee, Chris Zilvitis summed up the global mood.
"Actually very excited about this being a Chicago boy himself, myself. Really excited for this, it's a great opportunity for Chicago to show the catholic world and the entire world how we can be such great leaders. And his message, his first words to people 'peace be with you' really just echoes where the church should be putting all of their focus on this world is on peace."
