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Watch: Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowd in first appearance on Vatican balcony

Pope Leo XIV waved to the thousands of people gathered in St Peter's Square on Thursday, after being elected as the new pontiff.

Crowds of faithful erupted into cheers as Robert Prevost, 69, appeared for the first time from the famous Vatican balcony.

He becomes the first American to be elected to lead the Catholic Church.

The new pope is seen as a reformer, and worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there.

3 hours ago

Roman Catholic Church

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A composite image of a black and white image of a cardinal in a procession, and a colour image of a papal funeral in St. Peter's Square.

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New York family queue to see the Pope lying in state

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Mourners queuing to see Pope's coffin on left side of picture, BBC's Sarah Rainsford on right side

Pope mourners queue for 'chance to say goodbye'

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Pope Francis sitting on a balcony waving at a crowd flanked by at least three aides.

Pope Francis's last public appearance on Easter Sunday

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Pope Francis speaks from a balcony, on the day of the "Urbi et Orbi"

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Spanish Police

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Moment missile lands in Ukrainian city of Sumy

Footage shows moment missile lands in Ukrainian city of Sumy

Screengrab of Pope in wheelchair, wearing black trousers, a white shirt and a scarf

Watch: Pope seen without usual papal attire

Pope Francis visits St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, still with an oxygen tube, as he continues to recover from ill health.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive for the State Banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale in Rome,

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King Charles speaking at Italian Parliament

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Pope Francis

Pope Francis waves to crowd in first public appearance since leaving hospital

The pontiff has not been seen in public since he left Rome's Gemelli hospital on 23 March, after undergoing treatment for pneumonia.