Status: 08.05.2025 6:22 p.m.
White smoke rises above the Sistine chapel – the traditional sign of a successful pope choice. In addition, bells ringed. The name of the new Pontifex is to be announced in the early evening.
The cardinals gathered in the Vatican have chosen a successor for the late Pope Francis. White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the evening. This means that the 133 cardinals entitled to vote with the necessary two -thirds majority were able to agree on a new Pope.
Tens of thousands of people gathered on St. Peter’s Square to wait for the smoke signal. When the white smoke from the Sistine chapel was swing out, they reacted with applause and cheering calls. “Viva Il Papa” and “Habemus Papam” called the people in the choir to the ringing of bells, which only used a few seconds after the smoke.
The new Pope presents itself in the evening
The procedure stipulates that the 267th Pope will be presented to the public soon after the election on the Mittelloggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. This happens with the words “habemus papam”, Latin for “We have a pope”. This task traditionally has the cardinal protodiacon, and since last year this office has held the Frenchman Dominique Mamberti.
-The cardinal then reads the birth name of the election winner in Latin and announces the name he chose for his office. After that, the new Pope should donate a first blessing.
Previously the biggest conclave
The new Pope follows Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 after weeks of illness.
The conclave of the 133 cardinals, which could choose the successor of the late Francis, started early Wednesday evening. There was an unsuccessful ballot on Wednesday. There were three other ballots on Thursday.
With 133 voters, it was the largest in the Catholic Church to date. Actually, a maximum of 120 cardinals entitled to vote are planned, but Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, had appointed numerous new cardinals a few months before his death.
