Archbishop welcomes 'unexpected' Pope

The Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin said helium "really didn't expect" the American Robert Prevost, who volition beryllium known arsenic Pope Leo XIV to beryllium elected.

White fume started billowing from the chimney connected the Sistine Chapel successful Rome soon aft 18:00 section clip (17:00 BST) connected Thursday, signalling the voting process had concluded.

The caller Pope past appeared connected the balcony of St Peter's Basilica aft his election.

Archbishop Martin said helium was praying for the caller Pope and hoped that "he volition bash a bully occupation for each of us".

Speaking astir gathering the past Cardinal connected BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster, Archbishop Martin described Pope Leo arsenic precise calm and respectful.

He said: "He was a precise affable and a courteous person, idiosyncratic who is successful that benignant of humility that Pope Francis has exuded implicit the past fig of years."

"Whenever I heard his sanction called out, I conscionable thought, it's not what I would person thought, but the much I've begun to deliberation astir it, intelligibly the Cardinals person been reflecting for a afloat 2 weeks earlier they adjacent went successful the doorway of the Sistine Chapel.

"And what are the needs of the church? What benignant of idiosyncratic bash we request astatine this time?"

"This is the 1 they've chosen," helium said.

In Londonderry connected Friday greeting Pauline Madden said she hoped the caller Pope would beryllium a bully successor to Pope Francis.

"There are challenges and issues for the Church worldwide. Hopefully helium volition beryllium seen arsenic possibly a peacemaker, determination is simply a batch of struggle successful antithetic parts of the world," she said.

Liam Wilson said helium was blessed the Conclave was quick.

"He looks truthful young, agelong whitethorn helium unrecorded now, I anticipation helium carries connected the enactment of Pope Francis."

Mr Wilson said Pope Francis spoke retired astir bid and existent struggles astir the world.

"I anticipation that continues now. What we privation present is to support the crushed that Pope Francis has laid and support everything going, and bring bid to the satellite hopefully.

Speaking aft the quality broke of the caller Pope's predetermination astatine Clonard Monastery successful Belfast, Blesson said it was a precise important day.

He said: "I anticipation helium is similar Pope Francis similar before. I volition commune for him that helium makes bully decisions and takes the Church successful the close direction."

Fr Ciarán O'Callaghan said this represents a caller commencement for the Catholic Church.

"Every Pope has a mode of starring the Church guardant and Pope Francis surely did that. This Pope has a batch of issues connected his in-tray truthful I anticipation helium begins to woody with those.

"He talks of inclusion which is simply a large connection successful our satellite today, astir a invited for everyone, and astir gathering connections and dialogue, and that sounds bully to me," helium said.

Rosemary said it was large news.

"I didn't expect an American but our erstwhile Pope had installed him arsenic cardinal 2 years ago, truthful it is large to spot it and helium volition conscionable person to beryllium himself," she said.

"I was calved successful the States, successful New York, truthful I americium blessed enough," Brain said.

"It's the archetypal Pope from northbound America. He is the person aft Saint Peter, it is simply a precise large deal. It is truthful significant, from Francis dying to a caller Pope elected."

Harry said Pope Leo's erstwhile acquisition successful Peru and the Vatican made him the close idiosyncratic for the job.

"It's bully that it didn't instrumentality excessively long, it shows that they had statement among them," helium said.