White smoke rising over the Vatican on Thursday signaled the election of a new pope. After the conclave of cardinals convened in the Sistine Chapel, American cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, 69, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet the crowds. He took the papal name Leo XIV, the first pope to do so in more than a hundred years.

The announcement was met with widespread celebration among Catholics worldwide. Many saw Leo XIV’s election as a moment of renewal for the Church and a sign of its expanding global identity. His background and reputation for thoughtful, inclusive leadership drew praise from religious and community leaders alike.

Not all reactions were positive, however. Some critics online expressed doubts or concerns about his leadership direction. Still, Pope Leo XIV’s election marks a historic milestone, and the world now watches to see how he will guide the Catholic Church into its next chapter.