VATICAN CITY — A senior Vatican official announced the new pope's name in Latin from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
He is Cardinal Robert Prevost — an American from Chicago.
While the world's 1.4 billion Catholics await the emergence of the new leader of their church on the famous loggia, a series of rituals are taking place.
Once a successful vote is complete, the most senior cardinal asks the newly elected pope, "Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?"
After he accepts, he is then asked, "What name do you wish to be called?"
The cardinal electors then pay homage and pledge obedience to the new head of the church, and thanks are given to God while the new pope is taken into a sacristy and fitted with papal attire.
Finally, the pronouncement is made in Latin — "Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!" ("I bring you tidings of great joy: We have a pope!") — and the new pope gives an apostolic blessing to throngs of faithful.
The new pontiff was chosen by 133 cardinal electors by a two-thirds majority.
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