US cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the new Pope and leader of the Roman Catholic Church and has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, a senior cardinal has announced to crowds in St Peter’s Square.

Earlier, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St Peter’s rung out, signalling that cardinals have elected a new pontiff.

The election came on the first full day of voting by the 133 cardinal electors, who secluded themselves behind the Vatican’s medieval walls on Wednesday afternoon.

A joyous crowd in St Peter’s Square cheered and applauded as the first puffs of smoke emerged from a small chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where the cardinals have been holding their secret ballot.

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US president Donald Trump, who stoked controversy days ago with an AI-generated picture of himself as the new Pope, was quick to congratulate his countryman.

“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honour to realise that he is the first American Pope,” Trump wrote on TruthSocial.

“What excitement, and what a Great Honour for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”