New Pope Chosen

The 266th Pope has been chosen. Whoever he may be, he now changes into his papal white cassock and one-by-one the Cardinal’s approach him to swear their obedience. He will stop and pray in the Pauline Chapel for a few minutes before emerging on the loggia of the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. Preceding him to the balcony is French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the Protodeacon, who announces “habemus papam”, latin for “we have a Pope” and then introduces him to the world in latin. He then emerges and delivers his first public words as the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.