The Vatican is alive with anticipation as 133 cardinals are locked inside the famous Sistine Chapel to vote on a successor to Pope Francis. With no outside communication, their decision will be revealed through a time-honored tradition: smoke signals. The crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square is buzzing with energy, hopeful for news, but their wait took a turn when black smoke spewed from the chimney at 9 p.m.
This dark plume indicates that no pope has been elected yet, as the cardinals’ ballots are combusted, signaling they must go for another round of voting. The last time a new pope was chosen so quickly was centuries ago, raising hopes wide and high.
Among the waiting crowd is Rev. Peter Mangum, who’s known the drill, having attended similar events multiple times before. He and fellow priests express their mixed feelings of excitement and hunger for the outcome.
As the world watches and waits, the atmosphere remains charged with hope and anticipation for the next reveal.
