New Pope Robert Prevost, First From America, To Be Known As Pope Leo, Speaks From Vatican Balcony

The new Pope is Robert Prevost - the first American pontiff - and will take the name Pope Leo

"May peace be with all of you," he says to thousands gathered below the St Peter's Square balcony

Prevost, 69, is greeted by huge cheers. Pope Leo XIV says he wants to deliver his own blessing to the people

The new pope reads from a sheet of paper. He shares the balcony with a few other cardinals. The new pope, who continues with a message of peace as he notes "God loves us all, unconditionally".

He pays tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, as he says he wants to deliver his own blessing to the people as Pope Francis did in his last appearance in St Peter's Square.

"Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges."

'May peace be with all of you,' Pope Leo XIV tells crowds. The pope hands waves to the crowd.

The newly elected, Chicago-born pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, is now on the front balcony to deliver his first speech.

Addressing the cheering crowd in Italian, 69-year-old says: "Peace be with all of you.

"Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I would like to offer a greeting of peace to reach your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you."

A papal tapestry is unfurled and draped over the edge of the balcony as cardinals gather on the left and right sides of the balcony, looking out over the crowd in St Peter's Square.

The crowd cheers and starts chanting after hearing the announcement that Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been voted as the new pope.

We're now all waiting for Prevost to appear on the balcony, with the crowd continuing to make noise and wave flags in anticipation.