Photo gallery: Meet the new pope

About 24 hours after the conclave started, the world was introduced to the Catholic Church’s new pope.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American to hold the role, was elected less than two years after becoming a cardinal.

Pope Leo, previously known as Cardinal Robert Prevost, was born in Chicago.

He went to college at Villanova University near Philadelphia before attending seminary in Chicago.

After his ordination, Pope Leo did missionary work in Peru, where he eventually served as bishop.

In 2023, Pope Francis appointed then-Bishop Prevost to a role at the Vatican, where he selected and managed other bishops in the Catholic Church.

After being introduced to the world on Thursday, Pope Leo offered a short reflection on love, faith and gratitude, which he delivered in Italian and Spanish.

“We have to look together how to be a missionary church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love,” he said.