Robert Prevost, a missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops, has been elected the first American pope in the 2,000year history of the Catholic Church.

His papal is Leone XIV.

His election came on the first full day of voting by the 133 cardinal electors.

He has delivered his first public address and blessing to the gathered crowds in St Peter's Square.

Catholic cardinals agreed on a pope on the second day of voting. The announcement of the election of the new pope was first made known with white smoke that emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

A third voting by the Cardinals was what resulted in the election of the new Pope.

The 133 cardinals who elected Pope Francis's successor were locked in the Sistine Chapel, their only method of communication with the outside world was signals from its chimney.

A few minutes after 4pm (GMT), white smoke emerged from the Chimney.

The pouring out of the white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signalling that a pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church was greeted with cheers, applause and the sounding of the bell.

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