A plume of white smoke drifted into the Roman sky from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday — the centuries-old sign that the Catholic Church has elected a new pope.
After two days of closed-door deliberations, 133 Roman Catholic cardinals have selected a successor to Pope Francis. Though the decision has been made, the world must wait for the formal introduction from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, where the chosen cardinal will step forward and offer his first blessing as pope.
The white smoke followed an earlier round of black smoke Thursday morning, indicating that consensus hadn’t yet been reached. But by afternoon, hopes were reignited. The unmistakable white plume was met with cheers and applause from thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square — pilgrims, clergy, and tourists alike — all watching in anticipation.
The cardinals began the secret conclave Wednesday inside the Sistine Chapel, bound by a vow of silence and steeped in tradition. Ballots are burned after each vote, producing black smoke if no decision is made, or white when a pope has been chosen. It’s a ritual that has remained unchanged for centuries — solemn, symbolic, and deeply moving for the Catholic faithful.
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, was known for his compassion, progressive stance, and dedication to the marginalized. As the world awaits the identity of his successor, speculation swirls: will the new pope follow in his reformist footsteps, or return the Church’s focus to more traditional doctrine?
This conclave echoes history. Pope Benedict XVI was elected in four ballots over two days in 2005, while Francis was chosen in five ballots in 2013. The process may be old, but the emotions it stirs remain powerful and fresh.
For now, the message is clear: white smoke means the wait is nearly over — a new spiritual leader is ready to guide the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
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