Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday after cardinals from around the globe chose him as the first American leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

A crowd tens of thousands erupted in prayer and emotion as Leo, successor to the late Francis, appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to deliver the first address of his ministry.

"To all people, wherever they are, to all peoples, to the whole Earth, peace be with you," a smiling Leo told the crowd.

"Help us, and each other, to build bridges through dialogue, through encounter, to come together as one people, always in peace."

Leo's speech was cheered, especially a section where the prelate -- who spent many years in Peru -- broke into Spanish, and also when he paid warm tribute to his popular predecessor Pope Francis, who died last month.

"We still keep in our ears that weak, but always courageous, voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome," he said, referring to the ailing Argentine's Easter Sunday address, a day before his death.

"We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, which hold dialogues, which is........

© International Business Times