White smoke billowed from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, marking the successful election of a new pope. The event took place after a brief, yet decisive conclave of 133 cardinals gathered in the Vatican, who have been tasked with selecting a successor to Pope Francis.
The moment of the white smoke rising from the chimney was eagerly anticipated by the global Catholic community, signaling that a new leader had been chosen to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
However, while the smoke marks the end of the election process, the identity of the new pope will not be revealed immediately. The official announcement is set to come later from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the new pope will make his first public appearance.
The conclave, which took place over the course of two days, began with intense deliberations among the cardinals as they worked to choose the right candidate to succeed Pope Francis.
The cardinals, all of whom hold significant influence in the Church, voted in secrecy and after several rounds of voting, they reached a consensus. As tradition dictates, the process culminated in the clear sign of the white smoke, a symbol that the cardinals have come to a decision.
