David Muir reports on the historic moment at the Vatican - the first American pope introduced to the world - Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost elected the 267th leader of the Catholic Church just 24 hours and 21 minutes after the doors closed to the Sistine Chapel, choosing the name Leo XIV; Terry Moran reports on the reactions back home from Pope Leo's brothers about his childhood in Chicago, his missionary work and why the family said they expect him speak his mind on thorny issues like immigration; Rachel Scott has details on the moving messages from Pres. Trump and former U.S. presidents' and what they believe this new American pope represents; and more on tonight’s broadcast of World News Tonight with David Muir.
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00:00Tonight, breaking news here at the Vatican, the American Pope, the cardinals in the conclave making an historic choice,
00:07electing for the first time an American to lead the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV, who is from Chicago.
00:14Tonight, the moving images here, the white smoke, then the ringing bells, confirming the cardinals had chosen a new pope.
00:23And then Pope Leo XIV, stepping out onto the balcony, a deafening roar from the crowd below.
00:29The shock of the moment, the first pope ever from the U.S., tens of thousands in the square surprised and thrilled by the unexpected choice.
00:38The 69-year-old former cardinal Robert Prevost from the south side of Chicago, who served in the church in the U.S., in Rome, in Peru,
00:45spending years there as a missionary, priest, and bishop.
00:49The new pope's first words, peace be with you all, setting the tone for his papacy.
00:53His repeated message today of building bridges, of unity, saying God loves everyone.
00:59And what does his choice of the name Leo signal about his hope for the church moving forward?
01:04Tonight, hear my interviews with Americans who were in the square, who could not believe the history they were witnessing here,
01:11and their hope for Pope Leo, our entire team, right here in St. Peter's Square tonight.
01:15This evening, Pope Leo's childhood in Chicago.
01:19We will hear from his family, his brothers, who remember as a boy he had a special relationship with God,
01:24the friends he grew up with, and what they saw in him, the celebrations across the U.S.
01:29Terry Moran, who is from Chicago, right here at the Vatican with me tonight.
01:34President Trump and former Presidents Biden, Obama, Clinton, and Bush, and their moving messages tonight,
01:39the opportunity and what they believe Pope Leo, this American pope, represents,
01:44and their messages on what the world needs now.
01:47The other major news tonight, President Trump announcing his first trade deal,
01:50this one between the U.S. and the U.K., some of the details still undecided.
01:55Also, the storms we're tracking at this hour, severe weather causing ground stops and delays
01:59from Charlotte to New York City, heavy thunderstorms, strong winds, and flash flooding risks.
02:04Also, the suspect charged with stalking after the scene outside Jennifer Aniston's home,
02:09in court today, and what played out.
02:11At the moment, right here behind me in St. Peter's Square,
02:14we will show you the deeply moving image captured of Pope Leo on the balcony,
02:19the American pope in prayer.
02:24From ABC News, this is ABC World News Tonight with David Muir,
02:30reporting tonight from the Vatican.
02:32Good evening tonight from the Vatican, where we witnessed history made here late today.
02:37The first-ever American pope, the Cardinals and the Conclave,
02:40electing Cardinal Robert Prevost from the south side of Chicago.
02:43Tonight, he is Pope Leo XIV.
02:46The eyes of the world on that chimney above the Sistine Chapel
02:49when white smoke began to emerge, signaling there is a new pope.
02:53You can hear the cheers that erupted here in St. Peter's Square.
02:56That message then confirmed by the ringing of the bells here at St. Peter's Basilica,
03:00echoing across the city of Rome.
03:03Tens of thousands in the square cheering,
03:05thousands more getting alerts on their phones that there was a new pope.
03:08They began running to the square.
03:10Many got here in time, the square overflowing.
03:13A little more than an hour later,
03:14a cardinal appearing, delivering the message everyone was waiting to hear.
03:18Habemus Papam.
03:22Habemus Papam.
03:24We have a pope.
03:25And then the moment the pope was revealed,
03:27Cardinal Prevost, born in Chicago, who studied at Villanova,
03:30then joining the priesthood, becoming a missionary in Peru.
03:33At 69, he is considered young to be a pope.
03:36Italian media calling him the least American of the American cardinals.
03:39In the crowd below, American flags begin waving there,
03:43people from all over the world celebrating as he waved to them.
03:46In his address, the new pope's first words,
03:48peace be with you all,
03:50his repeated message of unity saying God loves everyone,
03:53and his choice of the name of Leo,
03:55and what it signals tonight about his papacy ahead.
03:58Tonight here, my interviews with Americans who are in the square
04:01who could not believe the history they were witnessing,
04:03and I talk with Father James Martin, who knows the pope,
04:06describing him as a kind, humble man, and a decisive one, too.
04:10Tonight here, the American pope.
04:12Tonight, 24 hours and 21 minutes after the doors close to the Sistine Chapel,
04:20the white smoke seen by the world late today.
04:24The applause, the cheers erupting from St. Peter's Square,
04:28and the wait would begin here.
04:29Tens of thousands gathered here in the square and beyond,
04:32waiting to see the new pope and to learn who it will be.
04:36Inside the Sistine Chapel, 133 cardinals choosing one of their own,
04:43and he was about to make history the first ever pope from the United States.
04:48Good afternoon, live from the Vatican.
04:50We're coming back on the air because there is smoke again coming from the chimney.
04:53Let's go right to the live picture.
04:55The swell of applause from the square right here, St. Peter's Square, obviously.
05:00And you can see right there, it would appear to be a white smoke,
05:04which would be an extraordinary development here in Vatican City.
05:08The white smoke coming after the fourth ballot, the anticipation growing here.
05:13Some running to the square after alerts on their phones,
05:17trying to find a place already overflowing St. Peter's Square.
05:21The bells ringing out.
05:24While inside the Sistine Chapel, he is asked,
05:27do you accept your election as Supreme Pontiff?
05:30The moment he said yes, he became pope.
05:33And he was asked, by what name do you wish to be called?
05:36It's believed he was then brought to the Room of Tears,
05:39where he chose a cassock from several hanging in that room.
05:43And as tens of thousands waited in St. Peter's Square,
05:46and millions waited watching from all over the world,
05:49Cardinal Proto-Deacon Dominique Momberti of France,
05:52walking out onto that balcony and declaring,
05:55Habemus Papam, we have a pope.
05:58Habemus Papam.
06:00And then delivering his name.
06:02Dominum Robertum Franciscum,
06:07Sancte Romane Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost.
06:12Cardinal Robert Prevost, revealing he has chosen a name.
06:16Leonem Decimum Quartum.
06:20He will be known as Pope Leo XIV, the crowd chanting Leo.
06:27Born in Chicago in 1955, he is 69 years old.
06:32Considered young compared to recent popes,
06:34he could lead the church of 1.4 billion Catholics for some time to come.
06:39We have just heard that Robert Francis Prevost of the United States,
06:4569 years old, born in Chicago, has been named the next pope.
06:51There had been so much talk about whether or not there was a slim possibility
06:55that there would be an American pope, one from the United States.
06:59He went to college at Villanova, studied mathematics.
07:08Italian media has referred to him as the least American of the Americans
07:11because of his quiet, humble way.
07:14He had years of missionary experience in Peru.
07:18The voting cardinals in red on the balconies of St. Peter's Basilica.
07:21And then we see him, Pope Leo XIV, the first pope ever from the U.S., on the balcony.
07:35The cheers deafening as he waves.
07:37The pope is physically moved.
07:39Some in the crowd, waiting American flags, children in tears on their parents' shoulders,
07:50but none with their hands in prayer.
07:52And then his first words to the faithful as pope,
07:56peace be with you all, dearest brothers and sisters.
07:59La pace sia con tutti voi.
08:03He spoke of Pope Francis blessing Rome and the world that Easter morning,
08:07saying, allow me to follow up on that same blessing.
08:11God loves us.
08:12God loves you all.
08:17And evil will not prevail.
08:20He went on to say, help us too, to build bridges with dialogue, with encounter,
08:24uniting us all to be one people, always in peace.
08:33He thanked the cardinals who chose him to be the next pope.
08:36And this was his wish to millions watching.
08:39That this be a church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive,
08:44like this square, with open arms, all those who need our charity, our presence, and love.
08:50And a church that always tries to be close, especially to those who suffer.
08:56And the new pope who was born in Chicago, serving the church in the U.S. and in Rome,
09:00and in Peru, where Pope Francis sent him,
09:03he was a missionary, a priest, a bishop at Jiclayo, Peru, where he helped the poor.
09:08And today, he sent a message to the world in choosing to go by Pope Leo XIV.
09:14The choice of Leo XIV.
09:16Everyone looks to that name to try to figure out what kind of message the pope is trying to send from the very start.
09:22And what do you make of it?
09:23Historically, it's a name that would signal his alignment with workers, labor, and the poor.
09:29And that that's going to be his outreach from the very beginning?
09:32Certainly, that's his intention.
09:34I mean, he can expand that, but it's a real solid sign that that's the way he wants to be identified at the beginning.
09:38We met this husband and wife from California, Louis Nsuhay Bernal,
09:43who raced two miles to the square after getting the alert there was a new pope.
09:48What about him and what he said here today?
09:50I loved his message when he said building bridges through dialogue.
09:54From the moment we saw the white smoke begin to emerge from that chimney,
09:57you could see the size of the crowd swelling.
10:01People actually running down the street trying to make it to the square
10:03to actually see the new pope emerge on that balcony.
10:06And inside the crowd was a group of students from the University of Chicago
10:10who could not believe the history they were witnessing.
10:14He began by saying, peace be with you, and he talked about building bridges.
10:18And what do you think that means?
10:20I feel like it's a continuation of what Francis was doing and reaching those people on the margins.
10:26And Christina Morey from Indianapolis, she was at the front of the square
10:29meeting American seminarians and making friends with young people from all over the world,
10:35taking in the moment.
10:36There was a lot of hope and joy into what this new chapter could bring.
10:42And there were seven other countries touching shoulders.
10:45We all spoke different languages.
10:47We all had different interpretations of what was going on.
10:49But we were all together in that spirit of unity and excitement.
10:52And the American seminarians you were standing with as well were equally as shocked.
10:56Oh, they were all just jaws dropped.
10:58And we met young college students Elise Hartnig and Lily Weber from Chicago,
11:03witnessing the history made with the pope from their hometown.
11:07What connected you with Pope Francis and what do you hope from Pope Leo?
11:10Yes, so Pope Francis, I just feel, was very grounded.
11:13And he brought the communities all together throughout the world.
11:16I hope Pope Leo continues that and brings on his legacy throughout his time being a pope.
11:22And the fact that he's from Chicago, it might help, right?
11:25And the fact that he's from Chicago?
11:26We'll be back there in two days, so.
11:27Tough, tough, but compassionate city, right?
11:29Yes, but bring back the love to Chicago.
11:32And tonight here, the new and moving images from inside the Vatican.
11:38While the world was waiting to learn who the new pope would be,
11:41he was standing before the cardinals who elected him,
11:44right there at the altar in the Sistine Chapel.
11:46They began applauding as the new pope, Leo XIV, made his way out of the chapel
11:51and began his journey to that balcony to meet the world.
11:57So much hope here for the American pope.
12:00Tonight, Pope Leo's childhood in Chicago.
12:02We hear from his family, his brothers, who remember as a boy he had a special relationship with God,
12:07the friends he grew up with, and what they saw in him.
12:10ABC's Terry Moran, who is from Chicago, right here at the Vatican tonight.
12:15For the family and friends who know Pope Leo best tonight,
12:19there is celebration and deep pride.
12:21His brother, Lou Prevost, who lives in Florida, telling me his heart is full.
12:25He was elected.
12:26I got up immediately, got dressed, dancing around like an idiot,
12:31just because it's, like, incredible.
12:36Just outside their hometown of Chicago, the pope's other brother, John Prevost,
12:39telling our Alex Perez he never expected this.
12:43I don't think it's really sunk in.
12:45It's kind of surreal.
12:46It's great pride.
12:48What kind of person is he?
12:49A regular run-of-the-mill person, I think because he was trained in missionary work
12:56in South America for so many years, he will be looking out for the disenfranchised.
13:01John says his brother is inspired by Pope Francis.
13:04I don't know right away if you'll see a difference between Pope Leo and Pope Francis.
13:09I think they were two of a kind.
13:12The youngest of three boys, Robert Prevost, knew early on he would be a priest.
13:17Some people play school, or some people play army.
13:20He played priest, and we had to go to mass.
13:23With you guys, that's right?
13:24Yes.
13:25The ironing board was the altar.
13:28So that's some of your childhood memories.
13:29That's absolutely correct.
13:30So you knew right then and there, this is not a joke.
13:34That's what he wanted.
13:35That's right.
13:36A woman down the street said he would be the first American pope.
13:39In first grade, they said that.
13:40In first grade.
13:41Uh-huh.
13:41He knew at that age he was going to be a priest.
13:44Lou says they used to tease him about it.
13:46We used to, you know, tease him, you're going to be the pope one day.
13:50Ha ha.
13:51Is that, you know, it just had it about him.
13:54Pope Leo graduated from Villanova University.
13:57Jim Priestley went to high school and college with the new pope.
14:00Back then, they called him Bob.
14:01Bob is the one guy that if you were going to pick a person in your class
14:06who was going to become the pope, Bob would be the person.
14:09He's very religious, a very devout Catholic who's devoted his life to Christ.
14:16And he's extremely bright.
14:19He saw his old friend when he came home last summer and held mass outside Chicago.
14:23Bob was kind of surprised because the church was pretty well full with people.
14:28A lot of people came to hear him talk.
14:30And now he's the pope.
14:31The family expects Pope Leo will speak his mind on thorny issues like immigration.
14:36A big thing for him is immigration.
14:38And is it right?
14:40What's going on?
14:41I think that'll be a challenge for him because I think he'll say something about it, too.
14:47But in these divided times, his brother Lou believes he will bring people together.
14:52What do you hope for him?
14:53What do you hope for his papacy and what he can do for the church in the world?
14:56I'm hoping now that Rob's pope, that he can bring all these sides together and smooth all that out.
15:05I wouldn't call him a conservative.
15:08I wouldn't call him a liberal.
15:10I think he's open-minded enough.
15:13And he seeks out guidance, not only praying to God and the Holy Spirit,
15:19but from fellow cardinals, from the nuns, from priests, bishops.
15:23Wow, it is just incredible what these brothers saw in their brother and what his friends saw
15:29in their fellow student at school all those years ago.
15:32Terry Moran with us here tonight at the Vatican.
15:34And, Terry, these three brothers have remained close all these years?
15:39They sure have, David.
15:40Lou tells me that through all the years, all the travels,
15:43he talked to his brother about once a week and still does.
15:46And John says that when he comes to the Vatican, he'll grab a gelato with him.
15:50And the brothers, David, they did settle an important question.
15:52The pope is a son of Chicago, the home of deep dish pizza, but he has converted.
15:57He now prefers the Roman kind.
15:59David?
16:00All right.
16:01Well, that would be expected as Pope Leo XIV now.
16:04Terry Moran, our thanks to you and Alex Perez, who's on the ground there in Chicago.
16:08We have just learned tonight of Pope Leo's first official visit this evening,
16:11so let's bring in our chief international correspondent, James Longman,
16:14who was right there in the square today as the world met Pope Leo.
16:17And, James, what have you learned about this visit tonight?
16:19Yeah, Leo has just made his first visit.
16:24He went to greet people in the building where he lived here in the Vatican since 2023.
16:28He stopped to give people in the courtyard photographs.
16:31He then blessed them as they left.
16:33But then here on the square, it was unbelievable.
16:36People could not believe what they were seeing, but seeing is believing.
16:39And this American pope gave a lot of people here some belief.
16:43David?
16:44James Longman back with us here tonight, James.
16:48And back in the U.S., President Trump, former Presidents Biden, Obama, Bush, and Clinton,
16:52all sending messages about this first American pope, the opportunity for unity and their hope
16:58for the new leader of the Catholic Church.
17:00Rachel Scott at the White House tonight.
17:02Tonight, the American president calling the election of the first American pope a great honor for our country.
17:09What greater honor could there be that we were a little bit surprised, but very happy?
17:16Each of America's former presidents sending their good wishes.
17:19Joe Biden, a devout Catholic, posting on social media, habeas pop him.
17:23May God bless Pope Leo XIV of Illinois.
17:26Jill and I congratulate him and wish him success.
17:29Barack Obama, posting, Michelle and I send our congratulations to a fellow Chicagoan,
17:34His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV.
17:36We'll pray for him as he begins the sacred work of leading the Catholic Church
17:39and setting an example for so many, regardless of faith.
17:43George W. Bush calling this a historic and hopeful moment for Catholics in America
17:47and for the faithful around the world.
17:49And Bill Clinton citing the pope's first words today, saying His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV,
17:54spoke to billions, calling for unity and offering peace, a message the world needs now more than ever.
18:02And President Trump says he looks forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV,
18:05saying it will be a very meaningful moment, David.
18:09Rachel Scott at the White House for us tonight.
18:11Rachel, thank you.
18:12There is one other headline from Washington tonight.
18:13President Trump today announcing a trade deal with the United Kingdom,
18:16the first agreement with any country since he launched his tariffs.
18:19The details are still being worked out, the White House says,
18:22but they also say the U.K. will buy more American goods, including beef, ethanol and planes,
18:27and that the U.S. will scale back some of its tariffs on British cars, steel and aluminum.
18:31Still Trump's 10 percent tariffs on all British products coming into the U.S. remain in place.
18:36When we come back here tonight, the storms, severe weather causing ground stops and delays
18:40from Charlotte all the way to New York City tonight.
18:42We'll time it out.
18:43Tonight, severe weather causing ground stops and delays at airports from Charlotte
18:48all the way up to the New York City area.
18:50Heavy thunderstorms and strong winds with the potential for flash flooding right into Saturday now.
18:55When we come back here tonight, the suspect charged with stalking
18:58after the scene outside Jennifer Aniston's home in court today.
19:01And what played out?
19:02You'll see it.
19:03To the index, the suspect accused of ramming his car to the gates of Jennifer Aniston's home.
19:08Appearing in court today, Jimmy Wayne Carwile behind glass there,
19:11pleading not guilty to charges of stalking and vandalism.
19:15The judge ordering a mental competency evaluation moving forward.
19:19When we come back here tonight, the deeply moving image, and we'll show you, of Pope Leo.
19:23And he was on this balcony, of course, right here behind me.
19:26ABC World News Tonight with David Muir.
19:30Sponsored by the Farmer's Dog.
19:31Dog food made fresh and delivered right to you.
19:35Tonight, the first American pope.
19:38The white smoke today signaling a new pope.
19:40Then on that balcony, Pope Leo, 69, born in Chicago.
19:44Tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square.
19:46And the deeply moving image captured of Pope Leo on that balcony in prayer.
19:51So much hope for this American pope.
19:53I'm David Muir at the Vatican.
19:55Good night.
19:56Thank you for making World News Tonight with David Muir, America's most watched newscast.
20:01Newlease.
20:03Go to class.
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