New Pope Elected as White Smoke Signals Selection

White smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney, accompanied by the ringing of bells, signaling the election of a new pope to succeed the late Pope Francis. The conclave, which gathered 133 eligible cardinals locked in seclusion, reached a two-thirds majority vote for the new pontiff, prompting cheers from the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. The new pope will be announced with the traditional proclamation “Habemus Papam!” and will make his first public appearance from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to impart the Urbi et Orbi blessing. This election comes at a pivotal time for the Catholic Church, as the new leader must decide whether to continue Pope Francis’s reformist agenda or shift toward a more traditional approach. Pope Francis, who passed away after 12 years as pontiff, was known for challenging traditional roles and dedicating his papacy to humility and simplicity. The world now awaits the identity of the new pope and the name he will choose.