Bishop welcomes 'reasonably quick' election of new Pope

The Bishop of Derry has said it is "good news" that a caller Pope has been elected "reasonably quickly".

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

The caller pope is American Robert Prevost, who volition beryllium known arsenic Pope Leo XIV.

He appeared connected the balcony of St Peter's Basilica a abbreviated clip ago.

Speaking astir the two-day conclave, Bishop Donal McKeown said: "Had it gone connected overmuch longer, different time oregon so, it would've been a motion of a alternatively divided conclave.

"I'm moving connected the presumption this means that they person reached a statement astatine a comparatively aboriginal signifier which is bully quality for each of us."

Bishop McKeown met Robert Prevost successful Rome past October.

He told BBC News NI that helium recovered the caller Pope to beryllium a "most amenable person".

"He came connected his ain to conscionable maine successful the office, helium sat and listened, asked intelligent questions, helium knew his brief," Bishop McKeown said.

"I was precise impressed by the courtesy with which I was met connected that occasion. In the congregation for bishops I'm precise tiny fry. He treated maine with tremendous respect and courtesy and I'm precise impressed."

Bishop McKeown said that "leading immoderate organisation is terribly difficult".

He added: "A enactment of the worldwide Catholic Church is an tremendous situation but I saw earlier maine past October a fit, steadfast antheral who was gracious successful each that helium did."

Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin wished Pope Leo XIV "every strength, bully health, and the required spiritual guidance arsenic helium begins his ngo of starring the Catholic Church astatine a clip of challenge, gathering connected the pastoral absorption and achievements of Pope Francis".

He added: "On behalf of the authorities and the radical of Ireland, I connection lukewarm congratulations to Cardinal Robert Prevost connected his predetermination arsenic Pope Leo XIV.

"The scenes of large joyousness and celebrations successful St. Peter's Square are a reflection of the hopes and goodwill felt by radical of the Catholic religion from each astir the satellite towards the caller pope."

Journalist and writer Martin O'Brien said helium was successful the media centre successful Rome but had conscionable gone extracurricular "to get a consciousness of the ambiance erstwhile abruptly I heard a large dependable of excitement".

"And determination was the achromatic smoke, unmistakably achromatic fume billowing," helium said.

"I deliberation determination was a consciousness astir of disbelief successful a consciousness that erstwhile you are really determination witnessing a infinitesimal of past you deliberation 'is this happening oregon is it not'."