The vote bore fruit – The Cardinals have elected a new Pope – Thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
Vatican: The Conclave has begun – All eyes on the chimney – The first vote was inconclusive!
A new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has been elected, having secured two-thirds of the votes from the Cardinal electors.
The conclave process has been successfully completed; however, the identity of the new Pontiff has not yet been revealed. His first appearance is expected within the next hour, when he will be presented on the balcony of the Sistine Chapel
According to tradition, the cardinals will proceed to the “Room of Tears” — there, the new Pontiff will be vested, and shortly afterward, the announcement “Habemus Papam” will be made to the world.
The conclave process has been successfully completed; however, the identity of the new Pontiff has not yet been revealed. His first appearance is expected within the next hour, when he will be presented on the balcony of the Sistine Chapel.
It took four rounds of voting to elect the new Pope — the same number as were needed for Benedict in 2005 and John Paul in 1978.
At the same time, thousands of people have flooded St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding streets, hoping to receive the blessing of the new Pontiff.
The Next Steps
Following the appearance of white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, everything is now moving swiftly.
The new Pontiff is currently being led to the small room next to the Sistine Chapel, known as the “Room of Tears,” where he will wear the white papal vestments for the first time. There, he prepares for his first public appearance as Pope, which is expected to take place within the next hour from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The official confirmation of his election will come with the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam” from the Dean of the Cardinals, who will present the new Pope to the crowd, announcing the name he has chosen for his papacy.
