VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church has chosen a new pope, marking a monumental moment in Church history. White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling that the College of Cardinals successfully elected the 267th pontiff, according to The Guardian.
The election follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. His papacy, which began in 2013, was widely recognized for championing social justice, environmental stewardship, and a pastoral approach to Church leadership.
According to The Times, 133 cardinal electors convened in the Sistine Chapel, casting secret ballots following long-standing Vatican tradition. After four rounds of voting over two days, the required two-thirds majority was reached, prompting the release of white smoke and the ringing of bells throughout St. Peter’s Square.
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Following the vote, the newly elected pope was led to the “Room of Tears” to don the traditional white papal cassock. He then accepted his election and selected his papal name. The formal announcement, known as Habemus Papam (“We have a pope”), is expected to be delivered soon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
According to Reuters, the new pope will offer his first apostolic blessing, Urbi et Orbi, immediately after his public introduction — a ritual witnessed by tens of thousands gathered in the square and millions more watching around the world.
The identity of the new pope had not been publicly disclosed at the time of publication. However, prominent contenders leading into the conclave included Cardinals Pietro Parolin, Luis Antonio Tagle, Robert Sarah, and Péter Erdő.
