Bells rang at the Vatican and white smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel: New Pope elected

Crowds in St. Peter's Square chanted: "Viva il Papa!" or "Long live the pope!" (Related video: Live Webcast from the Square)

"It's only been 24 hours, surprising how fast he was elected," Vatican Radio said, commenting on how the new pope was elected on the second day of the conclave, after just four or five ballots.

More pilgrims streamed into St. Peter's Square, waiting to find out who was selected. Prelates gathered on the roof of the Apostolic Palace.

The bells rang 6:04 p.m. (12:04 p.m. ET) ending confusion over the smoke signal that had risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. White smoke is used to announce the election of a new pope, along with the ringing of bells, which was added for this conclave.

Niels Hendrich, a 40-year-old salesman from Hamburg, Germany, jumped up and down with joy and called his father on a cell phone. "Habemus papam!" he shouted into the phone, using the Latin for: "We have a pope."

Antoinette Hastings, from Kent Island, Md., rose from her wheelchair, grasping her hands together and crying. She has artificial knees, making it tough to stand.

"I feel blessed, absolutely blessed," she said. "I just wish the rest of my family were here to experience this with me." Whole Article>>>

   

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posted by ADMIN @ Tuesday, April 19, 2005