“Habemus Papam!”
White smoke was seen pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday, signaling the College of Cardinals has chosen a successor to Pope Francis.
Riotous applause went up from a crowd of thousands gathered at St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, where they had been keeping eyes on the chimney waiting for the white plume to emerge after each ballot was cast during the papal conclave.
The smoke indicates at least 89 of the 133 cardinals participating in the process have reached a consensus on who should be the next pope. Black smoke — indicating no candidate achieved the two-thirds majority threshold — wafts from the chimney before the white smoke appears.
The new pontiff’s identity and chosen name will soon be proclaimed by revered Cardinal Dominique Mamberti from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square, with the religious higher-up declaring, ”Habemus Papam!” which is Latin for, “We have a pope!”
Meanwhile, the new pontiff will be dressed in traditional white papal vestments in the Room of Tears — a small space next to the Sistine Chapel that supposedly got its name from the emotion felt by the new pope in those moments.
The 267th pontiff will follow Pope Francis, 88, who died April 21 after a lengthy bout with respiratory illness culminating in a stroke and heart failure.
