Pope Leo XIV’s name choice ‘signals he will continue work of Francis’

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV appears at the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican (Andrew Medichini/AP) - (AP)

The new Pope’s choice of name signals he will continue the work of his predecessor, “institutionalising” Francis’s reforms, experts have said.

Pope Leo XIV, the first American head of the Catholic Church, emerged on to the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in front of a packed St Peter’s Square on Thursday evening.