White smoke emerges at Vatican as new pope is elected
New pope is expected to appear shortly on balcony overlooking the square, where he will address the crowd
White smoke emerges from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, announcing the election of the new Pope by the Conclave at the Vatican, May 08, 2025.
LONDON
A white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new pope on Thursday.
The new pope is expected to appear shortly on the balcony overlooking the square, where he will address the crowd.
A senior cardinal is set to confirm the election with the traditional announcement, saying "Habemus Papam," meaning "We have a Pope" in Latin.
The cardinal will then introduce the new pontiff by his chosen papal name, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Vatican's leadership.
The papal conclave of 1492 – the same year Christopher Columbus reached America – was the first to be held in the Sistine Chapel. In the mid-1200s, the election of a new pope took nearly three years. In 2013, less dramatically, Francis was elected after five ballots held over two days.
Francis died on April 21, age 88, after suffering a series of health problems, including a cardiac arrest.
Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
