White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney in Vatican City, signaling that a successor to Pope Francis has been chosen by the Vatican.
This announcement follows the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 years old. The Vatican confirmed his death on April 21.
Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell expressed ‘deep sorrow’ in a statement, announcing the passing of “our Holy Father Francis.” He remarked that the Bishop of Rome had gone ‘to the home of the Father’ at approximately 7:35 that morning.
He said: “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalised.
“With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite, merciful love of God, One and Tribune.”
Following a nine-day mourning period, speculation grew about who would assume the role of head of the Catholic Church. Eight cardinals in particular were seen as potential successors.
Initially, the Cardinals struggled to reach a majority decision, resulting in black smoke. However, today (May 8), they reached a consensus, and white smoke was seen billowing, confirming the decision.
Spectators in St Peter’s Square responded with cheers and applause, while bells chimed to mark the occasion.
The new pope will assume leadership of the Catholic Church, which has a global following of up to 1.39 billion people.
The election of a new pope is conducted by the College of Cardinals, a group of senior Catholic clergy.
During a papal conclave, the cardinals gather for secret voting sessions in the Sistine Chapel, casting up to four votes per day.
There are over 240 cardinals worldwide, with the number of eligible voters generally capped at 120. Only cardinals younger than 80 can participate in the vote.
This time, Al Jazeera reported that there were 138 eligible voters.
To become pope, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority vote, signified by the release of white smoke.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as cited by The Independent, notes that the process typically lasts between 15 to 20 days.