Let us keep in our ears the weak voice of Pope Francis that blesses Rome,” Leo said during his address on Thursday. “The Pope who blessed Rome, gave his blessing to the ent

The College of Cardinals has begun the process of selecting a successor to Pope Francis following his death. An Italian cardinal once tainted by a secret deal with China over the appointment of Catholic bishops has emerged as the favourite to be elected pope.

A group of 133 cardinals gathered Wednesday to begin the voting process, the largest number ever convened for a Papal conclave.

The new Pope is Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV - the first American pontiff to be elected leader of the Catholic Church Chicago-born Prevost is seen as a reformer and worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there

On the second day of the conclave at the Vatican, the cardinal electors chose Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost as the new pope, Leo XIV.