White Smoke at Sistine Chapel Confirms New Pope Chosen
The 133 cardinals voting for Pope Francis’ successor deliberated for just a day before coming to their decision.
Vatican Pool/Getty
Habemus papam.
Crowds in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City erupted in cheers as white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel just after noon EST Thursday, signaling that cardinals have elected a new pope.
White smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has been elected at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.
Hannah McKay/Reuters
The identity of new pontiff has not yet been announced but is expected to be confirmed shortly.
It has historically taken around hour for the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church to emerge onto the red-draped balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking the square after a conclave’s conclusion.
Pope Francis’ successor secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals who took part in the conclave. Sequestering themselves in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon, they deliberated just a day and a half to elect a new pope.
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As the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out, the crowd erupted into chants of “Long live the pope,” according to The New York Times.
They will be listening closely to the new pope’s first words from the balcony—remarks that often set the tone and priorities for his papacy. In 2013, Francis greeted the crowd that had gathered in the square with a simple “buonasera,” or “good evening.”
This story will be updated with more details.
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