White smoke emerged Thursday from a specially installed ceremonial chimney on the Sistine Chapel to announce that the Catholic Church has chosen its next pope.
Bells rang out in St Peter’s Square and thousands of pilgrims, tourists and curious Romans looked on as the fabled white smoke streamed into the sky, indicating that the 133 sequestered cardinals have voted by a two-thirds majority for a new clergyman to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
The new pope has not yet been officially revealed, but that should come within the next few minutes.
Well-wishers in St. Peter’s Square are waiting expectantly for the new pontiff to appear on a balcony above and greet followers.
Tourists and pilgrims sprinted to get a privileged view of the Basilica’s balcony, crowding up against and occasionally tripping over the security perimeter outside the main square as bells chimed and TV camera crews from around the globe rolled into action.
Teresa Tice, a safety manager from New Jersey on holiday in Italy with her family said she hoped the new pope would “be able to bring peace and harmony inside the church and in the world in general.”
Sister Monalisa Mashato, a Salesian nun from Brazil sheltering under a Brazilian flag, said the emotion was overwhelming. “We have been cheering as loud as we can. I hope he will be a pope with a heart open to women the poor and migrants like Francis was. It’s a difficult time for the world. We need a pope who knows how to unite,” she said.
“Although we are not Catholic, it’s impressive,” said Joerg, 61, a German presbyterian, “to see so many people so enthusiastic and to see who the new pope will be for the next 15 20 years will.” He’d come to visit his daughter in Rome but took advantage of being “lucky” to come at same time as conclave, and spent all of Wednesday and Thursday watching for the white smoke.
(Politico)
