Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Prevost, 69, was elected and accepted his fate as the next Bishop of Rome, leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics. Prevost — the first pope ever from the United States — chose Leo XIV as his papal name.

Francis may have been globally admired, but within the church hierarchy he was a polarizing figure. This could have resulted in a drawn-out voting process as diverse groups within the electorate struggle to find common ground.