NEW: Trump congratulates Pope Leo XIV as first American to serve

Trump wrote on Truth Social, "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a nativeof Chicago was elected to be the next pontiff, taking on the name Pope Leo XIV. He was born in 1955 and is 69 years old and was appointed by Pope Francis as a cardinal in 2023.

His election comes after Pope Francis' death at age 88 last month. The late pontiff died on April 21 early in the morning after suffering a stroke as well as heart failure following a long stint in the hospital for pneumonia.

Earlier on Thursday, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope had been chosen on the second day of the conclave. The cardinals—53 from Europe, 23 from Asia, 18 from Africa, 17 from South America, 16 from North America, and four each from Central America and Oceania—had been residing at the Casa Santa Marta and shuttling between their accommodations and the Sistine Chapel throughout the conclave.

After the white smoke billowed from the top, Pope Leo XIV emerged from the chapel where the formal announcement of the papacy took place.

Crowds cheered as he emerged from the chapel in Vatican City, where the new pope made his first remarks as pontiff.