After two days of contemplation and ballot, a new pope was elected.
The white smoke emanating from the chimney of the Sirsin chapel today to inform the 1.4 billion Catholics of the world and everyone that the conclave of 133 cardinals determined a new bishop of Rome. Who the successor of Saint-Pierre and the Progressive Pope François, who died at the age of 88 on April 21, has not yet been made public.
That said, while cable and internet information becomes white wall smoke, the unveiling of the newly named pontiff is expected in an hour to appear on the balcony. At that time, the world will learn what name the old cardinal now raised chose for its papacy.
During a ceremony which dates back to 1274 in its current form, a pope is elected from the ranks of the cardinals with a majority of two thirds required. The realization of this majority is what leads to several ballots among the conclave. The first of what was four voting bulletins scheduled for Thursday ended around 1:30 PT or 10:30 am local time in Rome. Without a pope elected this tour, a plume of black smoke shortly after exploding the temporary chimney erected at the top of the Sistine Chapel. The absence of a chef for the Holy See also meant that there was no ringing of the bells of the Saint-Pierre basilica this morning.
At this point, the cardinals took a break and took over about an hour later. Now the bells sound aloud on the acclamations of tens of thousands.
Dramatic license apart, nominated at the Oscars ConclaveWith Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini and John Lithgow, have put a projector in the past year on the process of selecting a new Pope. Precisely displaying the absence of smartphones and the isolation of cardinals which is really part of a conclave, Conclave The film also looks at fiction with its representation of political maneuvers that take place in the exercise.
Ralph Fiennes in Conclave
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However, even with thousands of journalists while waiting for the results of Thursday morning polls, there are a lot about what happened behind the doors locked with the College of Cardinals this week which will probably never be known.
Vatican observers are likely to request the instructions that Cardinal recruits, most of which were selected by Francis during his 12 -year reign, received and asked to exercise their functions. In addition, an explanation of the reason why the first voting day on May 7 to fill the papal vacancy has become hours more than expected will surely be at the top of the list of requests.
Photojournalists form their telephoto lenses on the chapel of the Sistine Chapel and the balcony in anticipation of a new pope, during the conclave, at the Saint-Pierre basilica on May 7, 2025 in Vatican City, at the Vatican. (Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images)
While the ballots were burned, the black smoke left the Vatican fireplace around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, indicating that the cardinals had not reached the majority requirement. In itself, in addition to the end of the hour, it was not unusual or unexpected. It took two days with four and five ballots respectively for Benedict XVI in 2005 and Francis in 2013 for a pope to be chosen.
In 1978, the selection of the Polish cardinal Karol Wojtyła to be John Paul II went longer than that of his immediate successors and his predecessors. The future chief of the Holy See has taken eight ballots and three days. Which is much better than the papal conclave which followed the death of Clément IV. This conclave took place from 1268 to 1271, and ended only with the election of Gregory X after the cardinals finally refused food and exposed to the elements to do the work.
Fortunately for all those concerned, it was not necessary this year.
