American Cardinal Robert Prevost elected new pope, will take the name Pope Leo XIV | Live updates

The newly elected Pope Leo XIV will have several events scheduled over the next few days, according to the Vatican.

On Friday, Leo will celebrate mass in the Sistine Chapel at 11 a.m. local time, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, told journalists in a short briefing Thursday evening.

Leo will recite the Regina Coeli prayer from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on Sunday at noon.

On Monday at 10 a.m., Leo will give an audience to all accredited journalists and media workers, in which he is expected to give a speech.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson called Prevost's selection "the greatest moment in the history of the greatest city," highlighting that the new pope was "born in Chicago, educated in Chicago, came back and served this city."

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reacted after native American cardinal Robert Prevost was elected Pope.

Johnson praised the new pope, saying he "recognizes and understands the value of immigration." The last pope to be named Leo, XIII, was known as the "Pope of Labor," and Johnson called Chicago the most pro-worker city in America.

Like the mayor, the new pope is reportedly a Chicago Cubs fan. Johnson said Chicagoans to tend to "take some partisanship," as "everyone has to know exactly who to root for -- but today, the world is rooting for Pope Leo."

"Today is truly a remarkable day" for Chicago and the world, Johnson said.

Leo is the fifth-most-popular name chosen by popes.

Pope Leo XIII, who headed the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death in 1903, was a founding figure of the Catholic social justice tradition.

While popes aren't obliged to change their name, every pontiff for the past 470 years has done so, usually choosing the name of a predecessor to both honor them and signal their intention to emulate his example. Pope Francis was a notable exception, choosing not the name of a former pope but that of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century cleric and patron saint of animals and the environment.

Take a look at photos from Vatican City as it is announced that Pope Leo XIV is the next pontiff.

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White smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025 (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

AP