Just In: White Smoke Over Sistine Chapel As New Pope Chosen

The world held its breath as a plume of white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel, a centuries-old signal that the College of Cardinals had reached a decision.

The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica soon followed, their triumphant chimes echoing across Vatican City, and a ripple of joy spread through the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square. As of May 8, 2025, the Roman Catholic Church has a new pope.

For millions of Catholics around the globe, this sacred moment is more than just a religious ceremony—it is a profound spiritual event.

The white smoke is a symbol of unity, faith, and continuity, a tradition that has stood for centuries.

This time, it came after three rounds of voting among the 133 cardinal electors, each casting their ballots under the solemn frescoes of Michelangelo, in the privacy and sanctity of the Sistine Chapel.

The conclave’s process is one steeped in tradition. After a pope dies or resigns, the College of Cardinals gathers in absolute secrecy, sworn to silence under an oath.

The cardinals pray, deliberate, and vote, each seeking divine guidance to choose the next shepherd for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

A two-thirds majority is required—at least 89 votes in this 2025 conclave.

When a consensus is reached, the ballots are burned with a chemical mixture that produces white smoke—a sight that sends waves of excitement through the faithful waiting outside.

Until that moment, the smoke has been black, signaling incomplete rounds of voting.

In St. Peter’s Square, a sea of pilgrims, tourists, and clergy erupted in celebration at the sight of the white smoke.

Some waved flags, others knelt in prayer, while many simply gazed at the chimney, tears streaming down their faces.

Smartphones captured the moment, and social media buzzed with the news: “We have a new pope!”

But the mystery did not end with the smoke. Inside the Sistine Chapel, the chosen cardinal was being asked the fateful question: “Do you accept your election as Supreme Pontiff?” If he answered “yes,” he was then asked what name he would take—a name that often reflects his vision for his papacy.

The world now waits for the next iconic moment: the appearance of the new pope on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The senior cardinal will step forward and declare, “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”) before revealing the name of the chosen cardinal.

In a matter of minutes, the world will come to know the identity of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church—one who will guide the faithful, confront global challenges, and continue a legacy that stretches back over two millennia.

As the crowds chant “Viva il papa!” and the cameras of the world turn towards the great basilica, one truth remains clear: a new chapter has begun for the Catholic Church.