NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — On the second day of the conclave, Cardinals elected 69-year-old Robert Francis Prevost as the new pontiff.
The Chicago native is the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church. Pope Leo XIV will lead 1.4 billion Roman Catholics.
Since white smoke began spilling from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel this afternoon—signaling Cardinals had reached a decision—Catholics around the world have been celebrating, including here in Hampton Roads…