US cardinal Robert Prevost was the surprise choice to be elected the new leader of the Catholic Church yesterday and has taken the name Leo XIV.

Pope Leo, who is the first American pontiff, appeared on the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica about 70 minutes after white smoke billowed from a chimney at the Sistine Chapel signifying the 133 cardinal electors had chosen a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

French cardinal Dominique Mamberti announced the choice of Prevost with the Latin words “Habemus Papam” — “We have a pope” — to tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to hear the news.

The 69-year-old, who is from Chicago, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru and became a cardinal in 2023. He has given few media interviews and rarely speaks in public.

Leo becomes the 267th Catholic pope after the death last month of Pope Francis, who was the first Latin American pope. He had led the Church for 12 years and sought to open the staid institution to the modern world.

Francis enacted a range of reforms and allowed debate on divisive issues such as women’s ordination and better inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics.

Ahead of the conclave, some cardinals called for continuity with Francis’s vision of greater openness and reform, while others said they wanted to turn back the clock and embrace old traditions.

The Most Reverend Wieslaw “Wes” Spiewak, the Catholic Bishop in the Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda, was appointed during Francis’s tenure.

He highlighted that, despite being American, Leo lived much of his life in Peru.

He explained: “I’m sure this is present in his perception of life and understanding of things.

“Despite the human factor that I am also aware of, I believe the Holy Spirit pointed out a man that the Church needs at that time, so I pray for that.”

Bishop Spiewak believes that as Pope, Leo will need to bridge church and biblical teachings with a changing world.

He said: “We need to get out of just being a westernised church into being more and more universal.

“I am sure Leo is not going to solve these hot-potato topics by himself but will look for the guidance and support of cardinals.”

Bishop Spiewak concluded: “When Francis was elected 12 years ago, there was generally a sense of surprise, the same thing happened today.

“I pray and want to believe that Leo is a good surprise because he also has to be a unifying presence in the church.”