White smoke has been seen above the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the 133 voting cardinals of the Catholic Church, meeting at the Vatican have chosen a new pope.
His name and background, ordinarily would be expected to be made public shortly.
The church officials spent two days selecting a new church chief, meaning that the new pope took little time to impress his peers in the secretive process.
Francis and Benedict XVI were both revealed in the evening of the conclave’s second day, while John Paul II, the longest-reigning pope of modern times, was selected on the third day in 1978.
Francis’ tenure was celebrated during a funeral only two weeks ago, an event that drew 250,000 people including President Donald Trump.
He was buried in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
Cardinal Re lauded the “mercy and the joys of the gospel” that were Francis’ priorities, “in contrast to the culture of waste.”
“He often reminded us… that we all belong to the same human family and that no one is saved alone,” Re said.
More to come
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