The process of selecting the new pope required two days as the cardinals deliberated.
Once they completed their actions, it only took two seconds to shift the atmosphere in St Peter's Square.
When white smoke billowed out through the provisional chimney atop the Sistine Chapel, an overwhelming surge of elation washed over the large assembly below, who were beginning to feel impatient after waiting for so long.
Approximately an hour afterward, Pope Leo XIV made his appearance from the balcony facing the crowd below.
Gasps echoed through the room upon revealing his identity: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who holds both American and Peruvian citizenship, entered the conclave with an opportunity to ascend to the leadership of the Catholic Church. However, experts considered other candidates more probable for this role.
He is 69 years old and regarded as a moderate. He dedicated numerous years to missionary work in Peru before being raised to the rank of cardinal by the late Pope Francis in 2023.
The electoral process is completely locked down and sequestered participants communicate their progress to the outside world only through smoke signals.
Clouds of white smoke appeared around 6:10 pm local time (2:10 am AEST), indicating that a conclusion had been reached.
Once Pope Leo arrived, the crowd was packed tightly, bumper to bumper, as spectators perched in windows overlooking the Vatican, all vying for a view of this historic moment.
Rather than focusing on the chimney, everyone’s attention was now drawn to the balcony that overlooked the square.
Born in Chicago, he will become the first American pontiff.
"It’s simply about unity and the drive of individuals coming together and being a part of it,” stated Faith Gibson, who hails from Washington DC but currently resides in Rome.
She joined the crowd that rushed into St Peter's Square following the announcement of the white smoke.
It feels unreal. It seemed post-apocalyptic. The moment the information spread, everyone began rushing about; I have never witnessed such chaos before.
'Peace be with you all'
A total of 133 high-ranking church officials, referred to as cardinals, were tasked with choosing the next pope. All of them are male, and the youngest cardinal is 45 years old.
The conclave commenced with a Mass on Wednesday morning, followed by the initial voting session in the Sistine Chapel later that same day.
Cardinals from across the globe convened in Vatican City following Pope Francis’s passing on April 21. However, only those under 80 years old were allowed to participate in the ancient electoral process.
The majority were joining for the very first time.
Upon appearing on the balcony, referred to as the Loggia of Blessings, Pope Leo delivered his speech in both Italian and Spanish.
"May peace be upon all of you," he declared, eliciting thunderous applause.
In total, he spoke for approximately 10 minutes. During his speech, Pope Leo commended his predecessor, Pope Francis, who had been very dear to him. He mentioned, "The gentle yet ever-valiant voice of Pope Francis bestowing blessings upon Rome continues to resonate in our minds."
The Pope who bestowed blessings upon Rome also offered his benediction to the entire globe that Easter Sunday morning.
I'd like to expand on that same blessing: God has love for us. God cherishes each one of you, and evil shall not triumph.
To win the election, the winning candidate needed a supermajority of at least two-thirds, plus one vote.
The 267th pope takes over a church that Pope Francis attempted to make more welcoming.
A significant portion of his 12-year term centered around addressing social justice concerns and assisting marginalized groups, particularly those struggling with poverty.
He likewise addressed his concerns regarding climate change and migration.
Pope Leo XIV is expected to steer the church in a comparable path.
Although conclaves can sometimes drag on—as evidenced by one in the 13th century which went on for two years and nine months—more recent ones have typically concluded within just a few days.
The election of Pope Francis in 2013 spanned three days, whereas selecting his predecessor, Pope Benedict, required only two days back in 2005. Prior to them, Pope John Paul II succeeded within just one attempt.
The sole Australian cardinal at the conclave was Mykola Bychok, who was born in Ukraine and serves as the Bishop of Melbourne.
Comments
Post a Comment