Pope Leo XIV first address: ‘Peace be with you.’

Pope Leo XIV CNN

Pope Leo XIV first address: ‘Peace be with you’

Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV — and becoming the first American pope in history.

Appearing on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday evening, CNN live updates stated that the new pope greeted thousands gathered in the square with a message of peace: “Peace be with you.”

The former missionary and archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru, delivered his first words in Italian before switching briefly to Spanish — a nod to his many years in Latin America.

“This is the first greeting of the resurrected Christ, the good shepherd who has given up his life for God,” he explained, adding, “And I should also like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts and our families.”

Visibly moved, Pope Leo XIV reflected on his spiritual journey, identifying himself as “an Augustinian priest, but a Christian above all, and a bishop, so we can all walk together.”

The crowd below erupted in applause as he waved solemnly from the balcony, marking a new chapter for the global Church.