White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling the election of a new pope by the cardinals.
The historic moment followed days of closed-door deliberations at the Vatican, where 133 cardinal-electors gathered in a conclave to elect the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
The name and identity of the new pope remain under wraps but will be announced when he appears at the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver his first public blessing.
“White smoke! The 133 Cardinal electors gathered in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel have elected the new Pope. He will appear soon at the central window of St. Peter’s Basilica,” the Vatican News posted.
This important event follows the passing of Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
He died at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta after a prolonged illness. His funeral mass was held on Saturday, April 26, in St. Peter’s Square.
Following the service, Francis was laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, honoring his personal wish to be buried outside the Vatican.
As the world awaits the introduction of the new pope, the faithful gather in St. Peter’s Square, united in anticipation and prayer.
The forthcoming announcement will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Catholic Church.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
