White smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on Thursday signaled the decision. The conclave, which began two days prior, concluded with the cardinals selecting a new pontiff after a little more than 24 hours.
The College of Cardinals has elected a new pope to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics. White smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on Thursday signaled the decision. The conclave, which began two days prior, concluded with the cardinals selecting a new pontiff after a little more than 24 hours.
The election comes at a pivotal moment for the church, following Pope Francis’ death in April. The new pope will face significant decisions regarding the church’s future direction, including whether to continue Francis’ agenda of greater inclusion and openness to change or adopt a different approach.
A large crowd has gathered in St. Peter’s Square, awaiting the announcement of the new pope’s identity. The cardinal protodeacon will introduce the new pontiff on the balcony overlooking the square.
The conclave featured 133 cardinals, the largest group to gather for such an event. Many of these cardinals were appointed by Pope Francis, and some did not know each other prior to the conclave.
Despite these challenges, the cardinals reached a decision relatively quickly, following the trend of recent papal elections lasting two to three days. The new pope’s leadership will shape the church’s future and impact its followers worldwide.