White smoke left Thursday shortly after 4:00 p.m. Tu of the Sistine Chapel chimney to the Vatican, announcing the election of a new pope to succeed François died on April 21. Cardinals voters have gathered in conclave since yesterday, Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
The identity of the 267th pope will only be known in a second step, when the cardinal “protodiacre” will be released on the balcony of the Saint-Pierre basilica to pronounce the famous formula “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”), as well as the identity and the name of reign chosen by the new head of the Roman Catholic Church.
In the process, the new pope will be released on the balcony to address more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide with its first blessing “Urbi et Orbi” (for the city of Rome and for the world)
open ballot
The sovereign pontiff was elected after a ballot which promised to be very open, notably due to the record number of cardinals present. He brought together a majority of two thirds, that is to say at least 89 votes, on his name. But due to the absolute secrecy surrounding the conclave, the details of the ballot are not known.
-Among the “papabili”-favorites-whose name comes frequently are the Italians Pietro Parolin and Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Maltese Mario Grech, the French Jean-Marc Aveline, or the Philippin Luis Antonio Tagle.
The new pope will succeed François, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, after a pontificate of 12 years.
With AFP
