JUST IN: New Pope Elected as White Smoke Rises Over Vatican

White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8, signaling that the College of Cardinals has elected a new pope.

The decision came on the second day of the secret conclave, where 133 cardinals from around the world gathered to choose a successor to Pope Francis. The appearance of white smoke is the traditional sign that a two-thirds majority has been reached and a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church has been selected.

As is customary, the identity of the new pope will be revealed during the formal announcement from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica. Until then, the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful must wait to learn who will guide them into the next chapter of Catholic leadership.

The election marks a historic moment, concluding a papal transition that began following the end of Pope Francis’s decade-long pontificate. Crowds gathered in St Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as the smoke emerged, signaling the end of the conclave and the beginning of a new era for the Church.