Breaking: White Smoke Signals New Pope Chosen in Vatican
Vatican City: New Pontiff Chosen, Signaled by Smoke Empit
Real buzz is in the air! The Vatican's cardinals have finally agreed on the new pope after 24 hours of intense discussion. But who's the lucky guy and what moniker has he picked? Get ready to find out!
Fanfare erupted as white smoke billowed out from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Around 15,000 onlookers on St. Peter's Square couldn't contain their excitement, and the bells began to toll. The Italian news agency, ANSA, reports that the new pope emerged victorious in the fourth round of voting after an elusive agreement had eluded the cardinals in the early rounds.
For now, however, the world will have to wait a bit longer to discover the identity and name of this 267^{th} spiritual leader of the 1.4 billion Catholics. The new pope will be decked in white, and the cardinals will pay homage to him. A joint prayer will soon follow the announcement from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica that "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope) and the pope's chosen name.
Procedures and Symbols: What Happens Next when White Smoke Rises?
St. Peter's Square is preparing for a grand gathering. Many Rome locals and tourists are rushing to the central landmark of the Vatican City.
This conclave, the spiritual forum where cardinals select a new pope, was largest in history, boasting 133 cardinals. After the first round of voting, black smoke filled the evening sky over Vatican for more than three hours. Optimism soared as the second day started, but the cardinals couldn't reach consensus; midnight found the crowd anticipating another round of black smoke. But as the afternoon wore on, an agreement was finally struck.
Francisco's Legacy and the Future Pope
The Church will bid farewell to Francis, who has guided them for 12 years and presided over them for two and a half weeks without a pope. The Catholic faith had faces some dark days due to a surge of sexual abuse scandals, but belief continues to grow on other continents. With heated debates about the Pope's progressive course vs conservative aspirations, the Church is on the brink of a new era.
Planned Appearances
Before the election, speculation swirled that the new pope might hail from a non-Italian nation. Since 1978, Italians have held the title of pope only three times: John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
According to Catholic belief, the Pope is the successor of St. Peter and the emissary of Christ on Earth. While the Pope doesn't wield great secular power, his moral authority remains instrumental for many people. Expect the new Pope to visit the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, his beloved church in Rome, to pay respects to his predecessor Francis. The traditional Angelus prayer before tens of thousands of believers on St. Peter's Square is likely this Sunday, with a grand mass for the inauguration next week, boasting an illustrious guest-list.
References:- ntv.de, mli/dpa- Some sources (e.g., 1, 2) report a new Pope has been elected, specifically Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost from the USA who will choose the name Leo XIV. However, it remains to be officially confirmed by the Vatican and widely reported 3.
The European Parliament expressed interest in the election of the new pope, given the global significance of this event.
In light of the breaking news about the new pope, discussions surrounding politics and general news have escalated.
It remains to be seen whether the new pope, expected to be non-Italian, will maintain or shift the Church's focus on issues such as sexual abuse scandals.
Following the announcement from the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica, the European Parliament may convene to address the implications of the new pope's election on international relations and Catholic philosophy.
