White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon, signaling to the world that the College of Cardinals has successfully elected a new pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church. The election follows the death of Pope Francis last month.
The identity of the new pontiff is expected to be revealed shortly, with the traditional appearance on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. There, the newly elected pope will greet the faithful for the first time.
The papal conclave, which began Wednesday, reached its conclusion after several rounds of voting. While it remains unclear whether the decision was reached after four or five ballots, either outcome aligns with recent precedent. Pope Benedict XVI was elected in 2005 after four ballots, and Pope Francis in 2013 after five—each over the span of two days.
What Happens Next?
With the conclave concluded, the next steps follow a well-established tradition. The senior cardinal deacon will first appear on the balcony and announce the Latin phrase “Habemus Papam”—“We have a pope”—followed by the new pontiff’s chosen papal name.
The new pope will then emerge to deliver a brief speech and offer his first apostolic blessing to the gathered crowd in St. Peter’s Square and to millions watching around the globe.
Watch the live stream here on FOX 4 NEWS