THE NEW POPE HAS BEEN CHOSEN
Thick white smoke has billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, signalling to the world that the Roman Catholic church has a new pope.
The smoke was met with loud applause from the thousands of pilgrims and tourists waiting in St Peter’s Square on Thursday. It means that one of the 133 cardinals inside the chapel has obtained the two-thirds majority required to win the conclave, the secretive centuries-old ritual of electing a new pontiff.
First American pope elected and will be known as Pope Leo XIV
That means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis. The crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers. The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words “Habemus papam!” Latin for “We have a pope!” from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. The cardinal then reads the winner’s birth name in Latin, and reveals the name he has chosen to be called.
The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.
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