White smoke rises from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a new pope has been elected at the Vatican, May 8, 2025.
Dylan Martinez | Reuters
Roman Catholic cardinals selected a new pope on the second day of their conclave Thursday, signaling the election with plumes of white smoke billowing from a chimney at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
The identity of the new pope, after what was the fourth ballot of the conclave, was not immediately revealed.
The prior pontiff, Pope Francis, died April 22 at age 88.
Cardinal Dominique Mamberti is expected to announce the name of the new pope from the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica later Thursday.
In recent Vatican conclaves, the new pope’s name was announced between 25 minutes and 66 minutes after white smoke was seen above the Sistine Chapel. White smoke was seen at about 12:07 p.m. ET.
The new pope will be the 267th Roman Catholic pontiff, the spiritual leader of more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide.
A huge crowd in St. Peter’s Square awaited the announcement of the pope’s identity.
Nuns react to the white smoke indicating that a new pope has been elected, at the Vatican, May 8, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Eloisa Lopez | Reuters
“I saw the smoke, but I haven’t seen the pope,” President Donald Trump quipped to reporters when asked a shouted question about the election.
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