His opening words as pontiff could have centered on anything. However, he desired to transmit that Jesus truly and continuously offers us the peace (the total well-being that only God can give) that we need.

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.

The first American pope succeeds Francis, preaching peace while confronting Church divides and urgent global crises.