With 133 cardinals locked away in the Sistine Chapel Wednesday evening, the process of selecting the next pope has begun amid great anticipation among the believers gathered outside. This highly confidential vote relies on a time-honored tradition, as the cardinals write their candidates' names while attempting to conceal their handwriting.
Waiting for a New Pope: The Process and the Verdict of Smoke
Waiting for a New Pope: The Process and the Verdict of Smoke
As cardinals convene in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church, excitement and anticipation fill St. Peter’s Square.
Onlookers flocked to St. Peter's Square, hoping for news of the election results. The moment of truth came at 9 p.m. when black smoke streamed from the chimney, indicating that the cardinals could not reach a consensus in the first round of voting. The burning of ballots, executed in a cast-iron stove, produced this outcome, signaling the process would continue for the time being.
"We are cold, we’re hungry, we’re thirsty but yet we can’t move,” shared Rev. Peter Mangum, a priest who had been waiting for hours, underscoring the devoted yet patient spirit of those gathered. All eyes remain on the chapel’s chimney, eager for a signal of white smoke that would announce a new pope, a historical event that hasn't occurred for over a decade.
As the deliberations continue, the faithful community waits with bated breath, anticipating a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.
"We are cold, we’re hungry, we’re thirsty but yet we can’t move,” shared Rev. Peter Mangum, a priest who had been waiting for hours, underscoring the devoted yet patient spirit of those gathered. All eyes remain on the chapel’s chimney, eager for a signal of white smoke that would announce a new pope, a historical event that hasn't occurred for over a decade.
As the deliberations continue, the faithful community waits with bated breath, anticipating a new chapter in the history of the Catholic Church.
