WHITE SMOKE RISES AND BELLS RING: A NEW POPE
CNN reports that a decision has been made:
VATICAN CITY (CNN) — White smoke rose from a Sistine Chapel chimney and bells rang Tuesday, signaling the selection of a new pope.Thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square clapped and waved flags as the smoke began to billow over Vatican City about 5:50 p.m. (11:50 a.m. ET).
Cardinal Jorge Arturo Medina Estévez was expected to make the official announcement of the 265th pontiff from the central balcony of the St. Peter’s Basilica.
Suspense built as the throng waited for the symbolic ringing of bells, at which point the crowd broke into a roar of jubilation.
The 115 cardinals’ morning ballots were burned at about 11:50 a.m. (5:50 a.m. EDT).
After each pair of votes, the ballots were burned in a stove at the Sistine Chapel, with the white smoke in the evening announcing to observers outside that a pope has been elected.
We’ll have more as more details become known.
