White smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
The smoke indicates that a candidate has secured the necessary two-thirds majority—at least 89 of the 133 voting cardinals—during the secretive conclave.
Cheers erupted from the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the traditional sign of a successful vote filled the sky.
The identity of the new pope will soon be revealed in the time-honored ceremony from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, when a senior cardinal proclaims “Habemus papam!”—Latin for “We have a pope!”
Following the announcement, the cardinal will read the newly elected pontiff’s birth name in Latin and reveal the papal name he has chosen.
The new pope is then expected to step onto the balcony to deliver his first public appearance and blessing to the faithful assembled below.
Earlier on Thursday, the 133 cardinal-electors, sequestered in Vatican accommodations since Wednesday, cast two rounds of ballots and failed to reach a consensus on who should be the next pope.
The votes both concluded without result, signaled by the plume of black smoke that rose from the chapel’s iconic chimney—a traditional symbol indicating no candidate received the required two-thirds majority. It was the same result for the first vote on Wednesday evening.
