A new era has dawned in the Roman Catholic Church as white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, confirming the election of a new pope by the College of Cardinals.
The signal came after days of intensive closed-door deliberations, during which 133 cardinal-electors convened in a solemn conclave to select a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness.
Though the identity of the new pope has yet to be revealed, tradition holds that he will soon step out onto the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his first blessing and be formally introduced to the world.
“White smoke! The 133 Cardinal electors gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have elected the new Pope. He will appear soon at the central window of St. Peter’s Basilica,” Vatican News confirmed in a post.
Pope Francis was laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome—a burial site he personally chose—following a solemn funeral mass held on April 26 in St. Peter’s Square.
Now, as thousands of faithful gather in anticipation, the world watches closely for the emergence of the Church’s new spiritual leader—a pivotal figure who will help guide the global Catholic community into its next chapter.
