The Smoke Signals a Fresh Start: The Second Day of the Vatican Conclave Yields a New Pope
Fresh cloud of smoke observed over Vatican City: A new Pope has been chosen.
Listen up, folks! The cardinals in the Vatican shake things up on the second day of the conclave. They've landed on a contemporary successor for the late Pope Francis. The suspense has reached its peak: Who's the lucky contender? And what title will he rock?
Let the Catholic Church have a new leader — it's official! The 24-hour conclave brings white smoke boiling from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the heart of the Vatican. Naturally, a crowd of around 15,000 anxious spectators, gathered on St. Peter's Square, erupt into applause and cheers shortly after 6 pm. The bells of St. Peter's Basilica toll triumphantly.
Gossip from Italian news agency Ansa suggests the new pope secured his spot in the fourth ballot. The first vote kicked off on Wednesday afternoon, followed by two more on Thursday mornings, none of which were successful. The breakthrough finally came in the fourth ballot on Thursday afternoon.
Before the world meets the new leader of the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic flock, take a breather. As per Catholic Church rituals, the pope-to-be will now be dressed in white. All cardinals will pledge allegiance to him, unite in prayer, then step onto the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica to make their momentous declaration: "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope), and introduce the name he's opted for.
Get acquainted with the new pope: A glimpse of the narratives unfolding
It's now time for the 267th Pontifex in two millennia of church history to step into the limelight. St. Peter's Square, the epicenter of the Vatican City, is filling up. Many residents and tourists in Rome are in a rush to the central square of the small European state nestled in the heart of the Italian capital.
Conclave at its largest scale ever
The new pope inheriting Pope Francis' shoes stepped up after a swift decision by the cardinals. The election team, comprising 133 cardinals from worldwide locations, entered the chapel on Wednesday at around 5:45 pm. They then sequestered themselves from the outside world for strict, round-the-clock consultations. Even contact with the outer world was prohibited during breaks and at night. Since the 1960s, no conclave has lasted longer than three days, including this one.
A pope from a different orbit: Francis, the Argentine revolutionary
The new head of the Catholic Church is anticipated to carry forward the cautious reform course initiated by Jorge Mario Bergoglio, also known as Pope Francis, or perhaps return to a more traditional route — as demanded by some conservative cardinals earlier.
Over the past decade, the Catholic Church in Europe hemorrhaged numerous members due to numerous abuse scandals. Conversely, the number of Catholics has been on an upward swing on other continents. Before the election, it was widely speculated that the new pope would not hail from Italy again. After John Paul II from Poland, Benedict XVI from Germany, and Francis from Argentina, it seems the tradition breaks from Italian leadership.
Source: ntv.de, mli/dpa
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- Pope Francis
[1] The Latest: White smoke emerging from Vatican chimney (Associated Press)[2] New Head for the Roman Catholic Church Elected (Bloomberg)[3] Vatican Announces Election of New Pope (Reuters)[4] Everything You Need to Know About the Papal Election (Washington Post)[5] Inside the Vatican's Secretive Conclave Process (NPR)
The European Parliament congratulates the newly elected pope, as announced by the Vatican after the conclusion of the secretive Conclave. This marks a departure from the recent tradition, as the new pope is not from Italy, contrary to popular speculation. The bells of St. Peter's Basilica tolled in celebration, marking the start of a new chapter for the Catholic Church. The pope-to-be will soon make his public appearance, further agreeing on the political and religious procedures that will follow, considered general-news worthy.
