Newsroom
A plume of white smoke curling into the Roman sky signaled the moment millions of Catholics around the world were waiting for, the election of a new Pope. The Vatican made it official Thursday afternoon, ending days of speculation as the cardinals reached a decision inside the hallowed walls of the Sistine Chapel.
Cheers erupted from the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the smoke billowed out, the traditional sign that the secretive papal conclave had finally chosen a new spiritual leader. Moments later, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out in triumph, confirming the joyful news.
Inside the Vatican, the newly elected Pope was led to the "Room of Tears", a small, solemn chamber next to the Sistine Chapel. There, he slipped into the papal white for the first time, likely overwhelmed with emotion as the weight of his new role sank in.
Soon, the anticipation will turn to celebration. A senior cardinal is set to step onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to utter the famous Latin phrase, "Habemus papam", "We have a Pope." With that, the name and chosen papal title of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church will be revealed to the world.
Shortly after, the Pope himself will appear on the balcony, offering his first public blessing, a moment that will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Vatican and for Catholics across the globe.
