The Catholic Church has elected its first American pope, the Peru-based Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV. The 69-year-old strode out onto the balcony of St Peter's Basilica about 7.24pm (3.24am) on Thursday, a little more than an hour after white smoke rose from the world's most-watched chimney, signifying the 133 cardinals inside had chosen a replacement for Pope Francis.The Chicago native is also a Peruvian citizen and lived for years in Peru, first as a missionary and then as an archbishop. Let us now pray for Pope Leo that God will be with him to guide the church in these difficult moments.