US Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the new pope.

Senior cardinal Dominique Mamberti came out onto St Peter’s balcony to announce the new pope to cheering crowds as thousands of people gathered in the square below, saying the famous Latin words: “Habemus Papam”, meaning “we have a pope”.

The 69-year-old will take the name Leo XIV – and greeted thousands of faithful from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the new head of the Catholic Church.

Speaking in Italian, the pontiff says Pope Francis was always “courageous and blessed Rome”.

“The pope that blessed Rome gave his blessing to the whole world on that Easter morning,” he says.

“Together we must try to find out how to be a church that builds bridges, establishes dialogue and is open to receives everybody.

“Let us follow up that blessing. God loves us and God loves all of you.

“Sin will not prevail, we are all in the hands of God.”

The pope went on to speak in Spanish, nodding to his time as a missionary, and said: “I would particularly like to say hello to my compatriots from Peru.

“It was a great pleasure for me to work in Peru.”

The new pontiff was chosen on the second day of the conclave after white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel at just after 5pm (UK time) on Thursday.

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Some 133 cardinals gathered in Rome before being led into the Sistine Chapel on 7 May to start the conclave – the secretive process to decide the new pontiff.

They handed over their phones before entering the building, which had been swept for hidden cameras, recording equipment, and bugs.

The windows were also covered to keep the outside world out and to stop drones from spying.

Each cardinal swore an oath of secrecy. They did not emerge from the Vatican until the new pope was chosen.

To be elected, the new pontiff had to win a two-thirds majority (89 votes). Afterwards, he was asked whether he accepted the papacy and by which name he wished to be known.

When the pope was chosen, the ballots were burned in a stove with an additive to produce white smoke that billowed from a chimney to alert onlookers that the decision had been made.

Previously, the ballots were burned with an additive to produce black smoke, indicating that the pope had not yet been chosen.

The election comes after Pope Francis died on 21 April at the age of 88 from a stroke and heart failure.

More than 250,000 people gathered at the Vatican for his funeral on 27 April.

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India’s airstrikes on Pakistani-controlled Kashmir after last month’s deadly militant attack on the Indian-administered side of the disputed region have raised fears of a dangerous escalation in the conflict.

It is not yet known what specific weapons were used in Wednesday’s early morning strikes which Delhi said targeted “terrorist camps”, though Islamabad said civilian infrastructure, including mosques, was hit.

However, India is reported to have deployed Rafale jets equipped with SCALP air-to-ground cruise missiles.

The nuclear-armed neighbours have been boosting their military capabilities since they clashed in a series of border skirmishes in 2019.

As of 2024, India has 36 Rafale jets, eight two-seat variants and 28 single-seat variants, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The aircraft were acquired under a 2016 inter-governmental agreement between India and France, which included a weapons package. This package featured MICA and SCALP missiles.

Between 2020 and 2024, around a third of India’s arms imports came from France, said the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafale jets, on Wednesday following the Indian attack.

If this was the case, the Pakistani military would have used surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). According to IISS, Pakistan has more than 200 SAMs. Although, for context, India has well over 800 across their armed forces.

How do India and Pakistan rank?

India’s overall military capability significantly exceeds that of Pakistan.

It ranks fourth in the world compared to Pakistan’s 12th place, according to Global Firepower’s index, which considers a range of factors to assess military strength.

In terms of personnel, India has 1,237,000 active personnel in its army, 75,000 in the navy and 149,900 air force.

Pakistan has fewer than half that with 560,000 active personnel in the army, 30,000 in the navy and 70,000 in the air force.

India’s armed forces twice the size of Pakistan’s

Sky’s security and defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke said: “The Indian forces are about double the size of Pakistan’s forces… if it came to a war, India will win.”

He added: “If it’s below the level of a war, if it’s some sort of military confrontation, then Pakistan might think it could get something out of it.”

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The two forces have similar nuclear capabilities. India has an estimated 180 nuclear warheads, while Pakistan has around 170, according to US thinktank the Federation of American Scientists.

However, experts agree that it is unlikely that either side will use their nuclear powers at this stage.

Professor Clarke said: “Nuclear weapons would only be used by any country if its existence is at stake. Nothing that happens in Kashmir threatens the existence of Pakistan or India.”

The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

Cardinals have failed to reach the required two-thirds majority in their first vote to choose a new pope in the Vatican.

Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 8pm, indicating they had been unable to agree.

Crowds in St Peter’s Square had been kept waiting longer than expected and most were hoping for the white smoke that signals the arrival of a new pontiff.

Latest updates as conclave under way

There was only one vote today, but from Thursday the 133 cardinals will hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon until at least 89 pick the same name.

The conclave started on Wednesday afternoon after cardinals swore an oath of secrecy and the doors of the Sistine Chapel were shut to the outside world.

They have given up their phones and are cut off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.

The most recent conclaves – for Pope Francis in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope John Paul II in 1978 – all lasted less than three days.

The voting takes places beneath Michelangelo’s legendary frescoes and the chapel – normally a packed tourist site – has installed tight security.

It’s been swept for listening devices, signal jammers have been installed, and its windows have been covered to protect from spy drones.

Lead seals have also been put on 80 doors at the conclave site to stop people going in and out.

The cardinals will sleep and eat at the Casa Santa Marta, a guest house within the Vatican where Pope Francis lived, until the process is over.

They cardinals began Wednesday by taking mass, before a solemn two-by-two procession into the Sistine Chapel in the afternoon.

Dresses in their red garb, they chanted the Litany of the Saints and Veni Creator – a hymn imploring the saints to help them find a new leader.

They then each came forward to take an oath of secrecy, placing a hand on the gospel and also promising not to allow any outside influence.

The final piece of theatre was the Latin declaration “Extra omnes” (“everyone else out”) and Archbishop Diego Ravelli, an aide to the late pope, pushed the the doors shut.

Read more:
How does conclave work?
The key contenders for pope
Conclave writer says women priests ‘big issue’ for new pope

Conclave is beginning 16 days after Pope Francis’s death, which came after a long hospital stay with pneumonia.

Many experts believe it will come down to a choice between someone who will continue his progressive approach and a more conservative candidate.

Among the favourites is Luis Tagle, a cardinal who could become the first Asian pontiff, and who’s been likened to Pope Francis.

Two Italians are also seen as strong contenders: The Archbishop of Bologna, Matteo Zuppi, and the so-called “deputy pope” Pietro Parolin.

The pope’s identity is normally revealed soon after the white smoke emerges, when he steps onto the balcony to wave to the crowds in St Peter’s Square.