Chants of ‘Leon, Leon’ ran through the crowds who had gathered in St Peter’s Square, with some appearing to be shocked, mouthing ‘An American?’.
In his first words, Pope Leo said ‘Peace be with you’, offering a message of peace and dialogue ‘without fear.’ The pontiff recalled he was an Augustinian priest, but that he was above all a Christian above all and a bishop, ‘So we can all walk together.’
He spoke in Italian and then switched to Spanish, recalling his many years spent as a missionary and then archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru.
Pope Leo’s appointment was revealed just after 5pm UK time on Thursday when white smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel, confirming the news to the world.
World leaders have already offered their congratulations to the 69-year-old pontiff, including US President Donald Trump, who said he will ‘look forward to meeting’ Pope Leo in a post on his Truth Social platform.
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