Viva il Papa! White smoke has risen above the Sistine Chapel — signaling the dramatic election of a new pope after just three rounds of voting, sending thousands into celebration in St. Peter’s Square.
The historic moment came just after 6pm local time on the second day of the secretive conclave, where 133 cardinals from around the world gathered to choose the 267th pontiff — the man who will now lead the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics.
The identity of the new pope has yet to be formally announced, but the scene at the Vatican is already one of jubilation and suspense. Chants of “Abbiamo Papa!” and “Viva il Papa!” echoed through the square as pilgrims waved flags, cheered, and broke into tears of joy.
“The moment the white smoke appeared, the whole square erupted. It was electric,” said Gabriel Capry, a pilgrim from London. “We’ve been waiting, praying, and finally — we have a pope.”
‘Habemus Papam’ Imminent
Soon, a senior cardinal — expected to be French Cardinal Dominique Mamberti — will step onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and proclaim the words:
“Habemus Papam!” (We have a Pope!)
He will then reveal the new pope’s birth name in Latin, followed by the papal name the elected man has chosen for his reign — a subtle but powerful clue into the direction the Church may take next.
The new pontiff is currently being dressed in his white robes inside the Room of Tears, the private chamber just off the Sistine Chapel where centuries of popes have gathered themselves before stepping onto the world stage.
From Black Smoke to Breakthrough
Earlier voting rounds — including last night and this morning — had ended in black smoke, indicating no consensus. But today’s afternoon session yielded a decisive outcome, with at least 89 cardinals backing the new leader.
The speed of the vote has shocked many Vatican-watchers, with some speculating that a clear favorite had emerged behind closed doors.
Among those tipped for the papacy were:
- Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, of the Philippines — a popular favorite who would have become the first Asian pope
- Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70 — the Vatican’s longtime secretary of state and a shrewd diplomat described as “Don Piero” by locals in his hometown
The actual name, however, remains under wraps — for now.
Global Church, Historic Moment
The 133 voting cardinals hailed from 70 countries, including 54 from Europe, 24 from Asia, 18 from South America, and 16 from North America. Their decision concludes a process launched after the death of Pope Francis last month.
“This is a turning point for the Church and humanity,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re in a pre-conclave mass, urging unity and divine guidance.
Today’s lightning-fast resolution contrasts with past conclaves:
- The longest lasted nearly three years (1268–1271)
- The shortest just 10 hours, in 1503
The latest vote took just over 24 hours, hinting at rare unity among the cardinals at this critical juncture for the Catholic Church.
