VATICAN CITY -- Catholics around the world are rejoicing Thursday afternoon as white smoke came pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney just after 12:06 p.m. EDT.

Sixty-nine-year-old American Cardinal Robert F. Prevost has been selected the 267th leader of the Catholic Church and has adopted the papal name of Leo XIV.

This is what Pope Leo XIV said in Italian in his first speech, as preliminarily translated by NBC News:

"Peace be with you all.

Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter our hearts, to reach your families: to all people wherever they may be, to all nations, to the whole earth: peace be with you.

This is the peace of the Risen Christ: a disarmed peace, a disarming peace, humble and persevering, it comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally.

We still hold in our ears that weak yet ever courageous voice of Pope Francis as he blessed Rome—the Pope who blessed Rome, who gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world, that Easter morning. Allow me to follow up on that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil shall not prevail. We are all in God’s hands.

Therefore, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with one another, let us move forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us; the world needs His light, humanity needs Him as a bridge to be reached by God and His love. Help us as well—help one another—to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, uniting everyone to be one single people always in peace.

Thanks to Pope Francis.

I also wish to thank all the brother cardinals who have chosen me to be the successor of Peter and to walk with you as a united Church, always seeking peace, justice, always striving to work as faithful women and men of Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries.

I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian, who said: "With you I am a Christian, for you I am a Bishop." In this spirit, we can all walk together toward that homeland which God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting: we must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to welcome—like this square with open arms—all those who need our presence.

[Spanish comments]

To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, and of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, always seeks charity, always strives to be close especially to those who suffer.

Today is the day of the supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and her love.

So, I would like to pray together with you: let us pray together for this new mission, but also for the whole Church and for peace in the world. Let us ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother.

Ave Maria ..."

The election of a new pope indicates that at least 89 of the 133 cardinals were able to agree on Prevost. 

Pope Leo was born on the south side of Chicago at Mercy Hospital and lived in Dolton, Ill. at E. 141st Pl. for a time and attended St. Mary of the Assumption Church on E. 137th Street.

The new pope was also an altar boy and attended seminary high school.

His mother had Spanish ancestry and was a librarian also known to be a good cook.

His father had Italian and French ancestry and served as a catechist at church.

Pope Leo graduated with bachelor's degree in mathematics from Villanova in 1977 and was ordained in 1982 with a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Rome.

He spent a couple decades in Peru doing missionary work and speaks English, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Several leaders from the region have released statements regarding the selection of Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV.