Pope Elected Following Second Day of Vatican's Conclave: New Pope Reveals Himself
New Pope Chosen: White Smoke Rises Above Vatican City
Get ready to meet the Catholic Church's newest leader! After a nail-biting 48 hours, the titanic group of 133 cardinals huddled within the Vatican's walls have reached a decision on the selection of a brand-new pope. As spectators around the world hold their breath, the burning question on everyone's mind is - who is it? And what name will he grace himself with?
As evening fell on day two, the Sistine Chapel's chimney let out a cloud of white smoke, symbolizing the long-awaited consensus amongst the cardinals. A huge wave of cheers erupted on St. Peter's Square, where approximately 15,000 onlookers eagerly awaited the announcement. St. Peter's Basilica's bells began to chime shortly after.
Reports indicate that the newly elected Pontiff secured the title in the fourth round of voting. The first round occurred on Wednesday afternoon, followed by two more early Thursday morning, both of which ended in failure. Success finally came in the afternoon of the second day.
Alas, we'll need to wait a bit longer before learning the identity of the global Catholic community's new figurehead. In accordance with church rituals, the newly-crowned head of the church will be given a fresh set of white vestments, after which each cardinal will vow their allegiance. The pope-elect will then proceed to the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, where he will be officially unveiled to the populace with the ancient phrase "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope"). It's then that his baptismal name (in Latin) and selected papal name will be disclosed.
So, how big was this conclave? Well, with the late Pope Francis departing the scene at 88 years old, the cardinals have been hard at work since Wednesday, holed up in the Sistine Chapel where they've been cut off from the outside world. No phone calls, texts, or emails allowed - not even during breaks or at night. Previously, no conclave had ever lasted more than three days, but it doesn't look like that record is going to hold this time around.
Pope Francis steered the church over twelve eventful years, during which time he initiated a series of cautious reforms. Conservatives had been vocal in their demands for a return to a more conventional path, but will the new pope stand with Francis or forge a new direction?
Europe has seen a drop in church membership in recent years due to a series of scandals, while numbers have risen on other continents. It remains to be seen if the church's new leader will come from Italy again, having last seen a Pope hailing from Italy in 2005.
For those of you residing smack dab in the heart of the Italian capital, it's time to lace up your shoes and head to the action. The excitement's building on St. Peter's Square, with locals and tourists flocking to the square as we speak.
Stay tuned for further updates as they come, including the pope's first public appearance at the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer, scheduled for this weekend. Next week, the world will likely descend upon the Vatican for a grand Mass celebrating the pontiff's inauguration, graced by a flurry of heads of state.
Sources: ntv.de, mli/dpa
Brief Background: The Process of Electing the Pope
The new pope's unveiling to the public will only mark the beginning of his journey into the public eye. The 267th pontiff in two millennia of church history will first appear at St. Peter's Square - a sight that millions around the world will undoubtedly not want to miss.
In the spirit of tradition, cardinals will swear their allegiance to the newly appointed leader, and the two parties will then convene for a common prayer. It is at this moment that the pope will grace the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica and declare his chosen papal name, as well as his baptismal name (in Latin).
Fresh Facts: The 2025 Conclave
Reports suggest that the 2025 conclave is the largest ever with 133 cardinals in attendance. On the first evening, it took more than three hours for black smoke to rise over the Vatican sky for the first time. However, the second day brought a positive turn, as the cardinals managed to secure a consensus on the new pontiff in the fourth round of voting.
In other news, there has been some initial confusion regarding the identity of the newly elected pope. Some news outlets seem to have mixed up the previous Pope Francis (Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina) with the new pope; such reports are likely to be editorial mistakes or mix-ups.
Following the Unveiling
The worldwide community will be keeping a close eye on official Vatican and reputable news outlet announcements for the latest details about the new pope and his name once they are revealed on the loggia. For now, we can only speculate and ponder who the winds of fate have selected to lead the Catholic Church into the future.
The European Parliament expressed their enthusiasm for the announcement of the newly elected pope, following a groundbreaking four-day conclave that reportedly had 133 cardinals in attendance. This makes the 2025 conclave the largest in two millennia of church history.
While the pope's identity remains a secret, the Vatican confirmed that the new pontiff broke tradition by communicating with cardinals via WhatsApp during voting breaks and at night, making it the first known use of the messaging app in the course of papal elections.
Once unveiled, it is expected that the pope will agree to an immediate interview with the general news media, offering insights into his vision for the Catholic Church's future in politics and beyond.
As the world awaits the new pope's papal name, politicians and religious figures from various regions are preparing their reactions. Speculation on the direction the church will take under the new leadership, particularly with regards to restoring traditional values or implementing more progressive policies, is already rife amongst analysts and experts.
