These were the moments leading up to the white smoke of 2013. Despite the rain, thousands of faithful gathered in Saint Peter's Square. It was on the second day of the conclave.
Flags flooded the square: where would the next pontiff come from?
Excited and full of expectation, all eyes were fixed on the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.
The emotion was clear in many faces — some audience members even climbed atop lampposts.
They were waiting for a sign, which came at 7:05 p.m., in the form of white smoke.
The Church had found the successor of Peter, but the world still didn’t know who he was.
That was revealed minutes later.
And the applause echoed through the square…
The excitement only grew as the name of the new pope was announced…
And so March 13 came to a close at the Vatican.
The Church had its new pontiff: Pope Francis.
CA
Trans. CRT
