Catholics Around the World Get a New Pope As Papal Conclave Sends Up White Smoke

• The Papal Conclave announced the election of a new pontiff on May 8, 2025, following Pope Francis' demise
• Cardinal Peter Turkson was among the Catholic Church leaders who were candidates for the papal position
• However, it is unclear who the next Pope will be since the Papal Conclave has not unveiled the new pontiff's name

The Papal Conclave sent up white smoke on May 8, 2025, which signifies that a new Pope has been decided on.

The election of a new pontiff had become necessary following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025.

An election was held on May 7, 2025, to elect a new Pope. However, this attempt failed since the Papal Conclave sent up black smoke, signalling that the election had no outcome.

On May 8, 2025, however, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the traditional sign that the College of Cardinals had successfully selected a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The smoke triggered cheers and prayers from the thousands gathered in St Peter’s Square, many of whom had been waiting anxiously for this moment.

Despite the clear signal that a decision has been reached, the identity of the new Pope has not been revealed, leaving the world in suspense.

The TikTok video of white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel is below:

Cardinal Turkson among potential candidates for Pope

Ghana’s Cardinal Peter Turkson is considered one of the front-runners to become the next pontiff following the death of Pope Francis. The former Bishop of the Cape Coast would become the first from Africa and first black Pope if he is chosen at the upcoming papal conclave.

Turkson was sent by Pope Francis as a peace envoy to South Sudan. He is also the former head of the Pontifical Council for Justice. Al Jazeera noted that the Ghanaian was also considered a favourite at one point during the 2013 conclave before Pope Francis was chosen.

The other African cardinal whose name has come up is the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Fridolin Ambongo, Archbishop of Kinshasa.

The other frontrunners are the Philippines' Cardinal Luis Tagle, Hungary's Cardinal Peter Erdo, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.

Netizens react to the new Pope selection

Netizens who saw the video of the selection of the new Pope expressed mixed reactions in the comments section. Many were excited, while a few attempted to guess who would lead the Catholic Church next.

@Sugarplum wrote:

"It's Robert Prevost!!"

@AJ wrote:

"How old is the new Pope? 80 or 90 years old?"

@_PrettyGirlYari_ wrote:

"So many beautiful flags."

@Laurenschaenzer wrote:

"I am hopeful that this new pope will follow and Pope Francis‘s footsteps and push back on Trump."

@Hellomdrfkrhihowyadurr wrote:

"And with the 1st pick in the 2025 Pope Draft, The Cardinals select..."

@Ewfdaddy2 wrote:

"If people only knew what was hidden inside the basement of the Vatican."

@Gioro wrote:

"Only times I hear about the pope Is when a new one is elected and when one dies..what do they even do?"

Famed seer drops prophecy on Pope's successor

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that a famed seer went viral after her prophecy on who would become the next Pope went viral.

This comes as Bright the Seer, in a video, said she foresaw that efforts were underway to ensure he hailed from Italy.

Social media users who took to the comments section of the video have shared their views on the claims made by the seer.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh