Robert Prevost, 69, has been elected as the new pope and will be known as Leo XIV.In his first address from the balcony of St Peter's Basilica on Thursday evening, Leo XIV spoke warmly about his predecessor and thanked the cardinals who had elected him to succeed the late Pope Francis.

In his first words as Pope Francis’ successor, uttered from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo said, “Peace be with you,” and emphasized a message of peace, dialogue and missionary evangelization.

"Peace be with all you," Pope Leo XIV said from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday, in his first public words.