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White smoke rises: Cardinals elect new pope
Cardinal electors have successfully chosen a new Pope after four rounds of voting in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, 2025.
The white smoke, signaling the election of a new pontiff, was visible around 12:08 p.m. Manila time.
The new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics was chosen in the fourth vote.
Following the announcement, crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers, chanting "Habemus Papam! Habemus Papam!" and waving flags from various nations.
The fact that it took cardinals only four votes to pick a new pope is considered a clear sign of the Church's unity.
The newly elected Pope will face significant global challenges, including ongoing armed conflicts in Ukraine, Pakistan-India tensions, and the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
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133 cardinal electors from over 70 countries have gathered at the Vatican to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
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Filipino Catholics are urged by various parishes to offer prayers for the upcoming Conclave, where the next Pope will be elected.
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