White smoke rises as Catholic Church elects new Pope; identity to be announced shortly from St. Peter¡¯s Basilica balcony
White smoke from the Sistine Chapel signals a new pope has been elected by 133 cardinals. The identity will be announced shortly from St. Peter¡¯s Basilica. The conclave ended on the second day, with cardinals selected largely under Pope Francis¡¯s tenure.
A new leader for the world¡¯s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics has been chosen. Thick white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the 133 cardinals have reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new Pope. The announcement of his identity will be made shortly from the balcony of St. Peter¡¯s Basilica. The conclave ended on its second day, with the new Pope selected in the fourth round of voting.
The process and the moment of confirmation
The conclave, a secretive and centuries-old tradition, involved 133 cardinals who were barred from any outside contact during the voting period. The final decision, made on the second day after the fourth ballot, was confirmed by the white smoke and the ringing bells of St. Peter¡¯s Basilica. Pilgrims and tourists in the square responded with loud applause and cheers.
Breaking: White smoke at the Vatican.A new Pope has been elected by the 133 Cardinal electors. The world now waits for his first appearance at the balcony of St. Peter¡¯s Basilica. Stay tuned! #ChimpReportsNews #Vatican @ChimpReports https://t.co/3AyfVTVoFh pic.twitter.com/7Rx2vdCOVr
¡ª Nyamate (@JBNyamate) May 8, 2025
Who announces the Pope and what comes next
Senior cardinal deacon Dominique Mamberti, a 73-year-old Frenchman born in Morocco, is expected to step out onto the balcony and declare the Latin phrase ¡°Habemus Papam¡± ¡ª ¡°We have a Pope.¡± However, if Mamberti has been elected Pope himself, another senior cardinal will make the announcement. The chosen pontiff is currently preparing behind closed doors, selecting his papal name, donning the white cassock, and receiving the ceremonial fisherman¡¯s ring.
The legacy of Pope Francis and what it could mean
This conclave is the first since the death of Pope Francis in April at the age of 88. Most of the cardinals voting in the conclave were appointed by him, suggesting the possibility that the new Pope may share his vision. However, many of these cardinals come from countries with conservative social views, potentially creating divergence from Francis¡¯s more inclusive approach. While speculation remains, the actual direction of the new papacy will become clearer only after the official announcement and early decisions by the incoming Pope.
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Nancy Jaiswal is a journalist who started her career in reporting and has covered both hard and soft news. From serious city news developments to lighthearted lifestyle pieces, she has written on almost everything hapenning in India (except maybe alien invasions¡ªyet!). For her, writing isn¡¯t just work; it¡¯s a passion, an obsession, and sometimes the reason she forgets to reply to texts.
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