American influencer Morgan Riddle caught up in Vatican crowds as Pope Leo XIV is appointed

An American influencer found herself caught up in chaotic crowds as global news was made just around the corner.

As the papal conclave was underway under immense secrecy in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to appoint a new pope, Morgan Riddle, who is known as the most famous woman in men’s tennis, was just metres away inside the Vatican Museum.

She had booked the tickets for the tourist experience weeks ago – well before Pope Francis passed away and a conclave went underway – but little did she know she had also unknowingly booked a front seat to history.

Watch the video above.

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Riddle was meandering around the Vatican museum while visiting the European country when suddenly white smoke emitted from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, alerting the world that a new pope had been chosen.

“We are in the Vatican museum right now and white smoke just came out 30 seconds ago, so everyone is running out of the museum,” Riddle explained in a video she captured of the moment that she posted to TikTok.

Riddle and hordes of others rushed out of the museum and joined people from all over the city as they raced towards the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica.

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In footage Riddle captured of the moment, countless people ran through the streets of Vatican City with some holding hands as they rushed to learn who will replace the late Pope Francis as the 267th pope.

“This is so insane,” Riddle exclaimed as she watched everyone around her drop everything at the sight of white smoke.

Among the crowds, uniformed servicemen marched through the streets and nuns congregated in the streets.

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Once Riddle made it to St Peter’s Square, she found herself among an endless crowd of people who all burst into cheers and applause for the new pope Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV.

The 69-year-old strode out onto the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica at about 7.30pm (3.30am) on Thursday, a little more than an hour after the white smoke rose from the world’s most-watched chimney.

Pope Leo smiled broadly and waved his arms as he greeted the crowd for the first time as their leader.

Riddle watched on as the pope addressed the crowd and the millions watching on from news feeds around the world.

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The first words out of his mouth were “la pace sia con tutti voi” – “peace be with you” – as he read a speech in Italian, offering a message of peace and dialogue “without fear”.

“We must build bridges. Build bridges with dialogue, coming together, uniting, becoming one single people, one single people in peace” Leo said, echoing Francis’ blessing from Easter Sunday.

Acknowledging the new pope, Riddle shared, “I hope he continues a legacy of care for the marginalised, the poor, the sick, refugees, immigrants, lgbtq & peace”.

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Riddle laughed in excitement and disbelief that she had found herself in the midst of a historic moment.

In the caption of the video, Riddle emphasised her shock at the experience.

“When I tell you I booked these tickets WEEKS ago and it was the only time slot I could get,” she wrote.

“The most random, divine experience of my life.”

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