White smoke was emitted from the
Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday, meaning the cardinals in the
papal conclave have elected a successor to Pope Francis in the
fourth vote.
The 133 cardinal electors have thus chosen the 267th pope and
new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, whose identity
will shortly be unveiled.
A two thirds majority was needed, meaning the magic number was
89.
The new pope was elected quicker than Francis was in 2013, when
the Argentine got the nod at the fifth ballot, again on the
second day of he conclave.
He is the fifth pope elected after just two days since 1900.
St Peter's bells rang out in joy and celebration, while there
was loud applause from the estimated 15,000 faithful already in
the square, who will now be joined by thousands more.
There was also great excitement among the mourners at Francis's
tomb at St Mary Major.
The smoke signal was flashed across the world on breaking news
services.
The marching bands of the Vatican gendarmeries and the Swiss
Guards played celebratory music.
Francis died on Easter Monday aged 88 after 12 years at the helm
of the Church.
The new heir to St Peter will now choose a name and retire to
the sacristy of the Sistine Chapel, called the "Room of Tears",
because there the newly elected popes often give in to emotion.
Here he finds three white cassocks of different sizes, and puts
on the one that best fits him.
After dressing, the pope sits on the chair of the Sistine
Chapel, reads a passage from the Gospel of Matthew on the
Petrine magisterium, and receives the homage of the cardinals.
Then, the cardinal protodeacon (Dominique Mamberti) will appear
on the central loggia of St. Peter's and pronounce the "habemus
papam" (we have a pope).
Immediately afterward, the pontiff will appear on the loggia and
impart the blessing Urbi et Orbi (to Rome and to the world).
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