By Emmanuel Nduka
White smoke drifted from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling that a new pope has been elected.
After just two days of deliberations, the 133 cardinals gathered in conclave have chosen a successor to Pope Francis.
However, the identity of the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church remains under wraps until the formal announcement is made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The dramatic moment was captured as the smoke, a centuries-old sign of a successful papal election, rose above Vatican City, watched closely by faithful Catholics around the world.
The global Catholic community, numbering approximately 1.4 billion, now awaits the appearance of the newly elected pope, who will soon greet the world for the first time in his new role.
