White Smoke Signals a Pope Has Been Chosen. What Happens Next?

Now that white smoke has finally billowed out of the chimney above the Sistine Chapel to signal that a new pope has been chosen, there will still be a short wait before the identity of the next pontiff becomes clear.

Based on what happened when Pope Francis was elected in 2013, it will probably take at least an hour before the designated cardinal appears on a balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to announce, in Latin, “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus papam” — “I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope.”

The cardinal (for this conclave, it is Cardinal Dominique Mamberti of France) will then announce the identity of the chosen pope and the name he will adopt as pontiff. Last time, Francis came out onto the balcony about 10 minutes after his identity was announced.