VATICAN CITY — Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into war-torn Gaza, decrying the violence and suffering in the Middle East during his first general audience as pope Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square.

Valerio Masella used to meet Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, twice a week for an hour-long training session at the Omega gym.

Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American pope in 2,000 years. What are his political views? Has he said anything about LGBTQ or women? Find out.

On day two of the conclave and after only four rounds of voting, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected and will be known as Pope Leo XIV, the first-ever North American pope.

This is a photo collection curated by AP photo editors.

Prevost, a U.S. native and naturalized citizen of Peru, spent his childhood growing up in Chicago. Here's what we know about his family.

"He’s the one who gave me permission to stay there" in 2000, James M. Ray, the former priest, told the Chicago Sun-Times about Robert Prevost, newly installed as pope but then head of the Midwest province of the Catholic church’s Augustinian order.

The Vatican said some 200,000 people attended the Mass at St. Peter’s Square, which marked the start of the pontificate of the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church. Vice President JD Vance was among the dignitaries.