First American Pope Leo XIV delivers message in English as he conducts first Mass since being elected

The newly-elected Pope Leo XIV has delivered a message in English.

The first American to be Pope, he is conducting his first Mass this morning (9 May) since he took on the sacred role.

He addressed Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to begin with, saying 'you have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed' and asking for their help to spread the Catholic faith.

Pope Leo XIV said before he continued in Italian, he wanted to quote: "I will sing a new song to the Lord because he has done marvels.

"And indeed not just with me, but with my brother cardinals as we celebrate this morning, I invite you to recognise the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out upon all of us."

This is the first time the new Pope has made public remarks in English, having spoke only in Italian and Spanish in his first comments to the world yesterday.

He added to the Cardinals: "I know I can rely on each and every one of you to walk with me as we continue as a Church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers, to announce the good news, to announce the Gospel."

Pope Leo then continued his sermon, speaking in Latin.

Born in Chicago, Cardinal Richard Prevost was elected as head of the Catholic Church yesterday as white smoke billowed from the chimeny at the Vatican.

The 69-year-old chose his papal name as Leo XIV which experts say signifies a commitment to dynamic social issues. Although he is an American, he has Peruvian nationality and the Vatican described him as the second Pope from the Americas (Francis was, of course, Argentinian).