White smoke has risen above the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope to lead the Catholic Church. The traditional sign white smoke billowing from the chapel’s chimney has confirmed that the cardinals gathered in conclave have successfully chosen a successor to Pope Francis.
The newly elected pope is expected to make his first public appearance within the next hour on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square. As is customary, a senior cardinal will step forward to formally announce the decision with the words “Habemus Papam” Latin for “We have a pope” and will introduce the new pontiff by his chosen papal name.
Since Wednesday, 133 cardinals under the age of 80 have been locked in deliberation inside the Sistine Chapel. They have been voting in secrecy, cut off from the outside world, until one of them secured at least two-thirds of the vote, or 89 ballots, needed to be elected pope.
Earlier in the day, black smoke had signaled that no consensus had been reached. But the appearance of white smoke has now brought a wave of excitement and anticipation to the tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square. Cheers erupted from the crowd as history unfolded behind the chapel’s closed doors.
Speculation has been rife over who would succeed Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. Questions abound about whether the cardinals have chosen a pope from outside Europe perhaps from Africa, Asia, or the Americas or whether they have turned to a seasoned member of the Roman Curia.
The newly chosen pontiff becomes the 267th pope in the history of the Catholic Church. As the leader of more than 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide, the pope serves not only as the Bishop of Rome but also as a global moral and spiritual figure.
The papal conclave follows a centuries-old process that blends solemn tradition with intense deliberation. The cardinals gather under oath, conduct up to four ballots a day two in the morning and two in the afternoon and remain sequestered until a decision is reached. The votes are burned after each session, with chemical additives determining whether the smoke appears black (indicating no decision) or white (announcing the election of a pope).
This conclave mirrors the timeframe of the previous two papal elections. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI was elected after a two-day conclave, and in 2013, Pope Francis was chosen under similar timing. While modern conclaves tend to be shorter, history offers examples of longer elections, including one in the 13th century that stretched over two years and nine months.
Before the final vote, the cardinals spent the night at the Vatican’s Santa Marta guesthouse, rising early for breakfast and a special Mass. They then proceeded to the Sistine Chapel, where they resumed the sacred task of choosing the next leader of the Church.
As the crowd in St Peter’s Square waits in anticipation, all eyes now turn to the balcony. The name and face of the new pope will soon be revealed, ushering in a new chapter for the Catholic Church.
