In a moment of solemn grandeur and ancient ritual, white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, heralding the election of the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. The decision came after the third round of voting by the 133 cardinal-electors gathered in one of the world’s most secretive religious proceedings—the Conclave.
Yet, as the world watched with bated breath, the identity of the new pontiff remains cloaked in mystery, heightening global anticipation. A formal announcement is expected within hours, with the iconic Latin declaration “Habemus Papam”—“We have a Pope”—set to echo through St. Peter’s Square.
A POPE PASSES, A NEW ERA BEGINS
The selection of the new Holy Father follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The first Latin American and Jesuit pope in history, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francis served the Church for over a decade with humility and unwavering commitment.
His passing—attributed to complications following a massive stroke—ended a papacy marked by bold reforms, environmental advocacy, and a focus on mercy and social justice. He died peacefully at his residence, Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City, with his final wishes carried out in a modest funeral and burial at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
A GLOBAL GATHERING IN THE SHADOW OF HISTORY
The College of Cardinals commenced the conclave proceedings on Wednesday following the traditional Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice Mass. With the Sistine Chapel sealed and mobile signals jammed to preserve absolute secrecy, the global delegation of princes of the Church cast their votes under the iconic frescoes of Michelangelo.
The 133 electors represented every inhabited continent:
- Europe: 54 cardinals (17 from Italy, 5 each from Spain and France)
- North America: 16 (including 10 from the U.S.)
- South America: 17
- Africa: 18
- Asia: 23
- Oceania: 4
Notably, Argentina, the late pope’s homeland, had four electors at the conclave—raising speculation about the possible continuation of Francis’s global-minded legacy.
THE FINAL WEEKS OF FRANCIS
According to Vatican sources, Pope Francis defied medical advice in his final days, appearing unexpectedly at St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, just one day before his fatal stroke. His health had been deteriorating for months due to a mix of respiratory failure, hypertension, diabetes, and pneumonia.
In death, as in life, he chose simplicity—requesting a plain wooden coffin engraved only with “Franciscus.” His humility and progressive theology endeared him to millions, and tributes flooded in from religious leaders and heads of state across the globe, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu.
A WORLD WAITS
As the bells prepare to toll and a new spiritual era dawns, the Church—and the world—now await the name, background, and vision of the newly elected pope. Will he carry forward Francis’s reformist vision or chart a new path entirely?
Until the grand balcony doors open above St. Peter’s Basilica, the faithful remain in prayer, the world in suspense, and the future of the Catholic Church on the cusp of transformation.
