White smoke emerged from the chimney in the Vatican this Thursday evening, May 8, 2025, signalling that a new pope has been elected.
Crowds erupted into cheers in St Peter’s Square to greet the development.
It is not yet known who the new pope is – he’s expected to appear on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square in the next hour.
A senior cardinal will soon confirm the decision with the words “Habemus Papam” – Latin for “we have a Pope” – and introduce the new pontiff by his chosen papal name
There are huge cheers from the crowd as the white smoke rises, everyone is running forward to see it.
People are jumping up and with joy, some are praying to the sky. One couple from Greece say it’s a “once in a life time experience”, adding that they will wait to see the new pope appear on the balcony.
“The sound here is tremendous, the bells are ringing so loudly it’s reverberating around the square as people cheer and scream with joy,” says a BBC report.
The new pope will succeed late Pope Francis, who died during the Easter period.
The 133 cardinals from around the world started voting yesterday. (News Express)
