White smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican this evening, signaling that a new Pope has been elected.
The bells of the Vatican chimed as large crowds erupted in cheers, while anxiously waiting for the name of the new Pope to be announced.
During the papal conclave, the cardinals were barred from leaving or having any contact with the outside world as they carefully selected the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
Inside the Vatican’s cloistered halls, the new pope will be preparing to adopt his papal name, which can indicate what type of pontiff he intends to be.
Then he will don a white papal cassock and the ceremonial fisherman’s ring before being led through the Hall of Benedictions and out onto the balcony, known as the Loggia of the Blessings.
There, his identity will be revealed to the thousands gathered below and the millions more around the world who have closely watched the conclave.
