The white smoke has billowed, and the Catholic church has a new pope – and he’s American. Cardinals at the Vatican elected the Chicago-born Robert Prevost on Thursday to lead the church, succeeding Pope Francis, who died last month. Prevost took the name Leo XIV as he became the first pontiff from the United States. “Peace be with you,” were his first words as pope. Here is a...

Vatican City – It felt like the square could talk in one voice: “Leone! Leone! Leone!” Thousands of people in St Peter’s Square chanted in chorus the name adopted by Robert Prevost as he ascended to the papacy on Thursday: Leo XIV. Just an hour and a half earlier, white smoke had billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, announcing that a conclave of cardinals had elected...