The temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday evening local time, signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.

Pope Leo XIV, in his first address to the media, spoke out against partisan bickering and called for the release of imprisoned journalists. "The way we communicate is of fundamental importance: we must say 'no' to the war of words and images,

The new pontiff addresses thousands of the members of the media in Vatican City, saying "we are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount".