Rome erupted in anticipation this evening as white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney — the age-old signal that the Roman Catholic Church has elected a new Pope.
The name of the new pontiff remains under wraps, but Vatican officials are preparing for the traditional Latin announcement from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, the 73-year-old French-born prelate, is widely tipped to deliver the historic words — unless, of course, he is the chosen one himself.
A sea of pilgrims and curious onlookers now floods the Via della Conciliazione, braving the chill for a glimpse of the man set to lead 1.4 billion Catholics around the globe.
Behind the chapel walls, a sacred sequence is unfolding.
After securing a two-thirds majority in the secret conclave, the chosen cardinal is asked two pivotal questions:
“Do you accept your canonical election as supreme pontiff?” and “What name do you wish to be called?”
Moments later, the newly elected Pope is robed in papal white and offered solemn pledges of obedience by his fellow cardinals.
Then, the powerful words echo across the square: “Habemus Papam!” — “We have a Pope!”
The world now holds its breath, waiting for the man in white to emerge.
