Pope Leo XIV was elected as the Catholic Church's 267th leader on Thursday.
The temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday evening local time, signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.
American Cardinal Robert Prevost was shortly thereafter announced as the 267th pontiff. He chose the name Leo XIV, a senior cardinal deacon announced.
The 69-year-old Chicago native is the first American pope and is seen as a diplomat in the church.
"This is the first greeting of the risen Christ. May the peace be with you," Leo said in Italian in his first remarks as pope. "This is the peace of the risen Christ."
Tune in to "The American Pope: Leo XIV," a special edition of "20/20," streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked at a news briefing about the pope's X account and his posts that shared criticism of Trump and Vance's policies.
Leavitt did not respond and reiterated that Trump welcomed the pope and was honored that an American was the pontiff.
"It's a great thing for the United States and for the world," she said.
-ABC News' Ivan Pereira
Singer Harry Styles was among the 150,000 people gathered at the Vatican's Saint Peter's Square to witness the election of the new pope.
An eagle-eyed onlooker snapped a photo of what appeared to be the "Late Night Talking" singer and former One Direction member on the streets of Rome on Thursday, ahead of the Vatican's announcement that Leo XIV had been elected as the new pope.
Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop emeritus of Washington, said Pope Leo XIV engaged in conversations with members of the clergy in "smaller groups" during the conclave, specifically during meal times and coffee breaks.
"It wasn't like he got up and made an overwhelmingly convincing speech that wowed the body," Gregory said during a press conference on Friday.
Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, said it was not the substance of what Leo said during the conclave, but the "manner in which he said it" that resonated with the cardinals.
Gregory went on to say that he talked to Leo about how they are both from Chicago and promised the pontiff his "respect, fidelity and love."
During a press conference with American cardinals on Friday, Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, said he did not think the fact that Pope Leo was from the United States "carried much weight" in the decision to elect him as the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
Regarding the remarks earlier by Cardinal Maung Bo — who said Leo will "build a bridge" with President Donald Trump — Dolan said the new pontiff will instead "build bridges with leaders of every nation."
Dolan said Leo's potential meeting with Trump would "not be of more heft" than conversations with other world leaders.
