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The Catholic Church has a new leader. White smoke came out of the Sistine Chapel chimney in the Vatican, early Wednesday afternoon (local time), signaling that the cardinals arrived at a consensus and elected the new Pope. The decision was made around 1:10 pm (Brasília time), after the third vote of the Conclave.
The decision was made around 1:10 pm (Brasília time), after the third vote on Conclave/Photo: Reproduction
The choice was made by 113 cardinals, gathered since the beginning of the week in secret sessions inside the Sistine Chapel. As tradition dictates, white smoke indicates that one of the candidates received at least two thirds of the votes, a number necessary to be proclaimed pontiff.
The name of the new Pope has not yet been officially disclosed. The expectation now turns to the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, from which the Cardinal Protodiácono must announce to the world the famous phrase “Habemus Papam” (“We have a Pope”), followed by the presentation of the name and first blessing of the new pontiff.
Thousands of faithful and tourists gather in St. Peter’s Square to accompany the historic moment. Once the new Pope’s name is announced, he will become St. Peter’s successor and take on the spiritual leadership of more than 1.3 billion Catholics around the world.
