Context:

The election of a new pope has been signaled by white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, but there is a delay before the new pontiff's identity is revealed. After around an hour, a designated cardinal, potentially Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, will appear on St. Peter’s Basilica's balcony to announce the new pope in Latin. In the Apostolic Palace, Archbishop Diego Ravelli prepares official documents and the newly elected pope will be taken to the Room of Tears to don the papal vestments. Garments in multiple sizes are prepared in anticipation of the new pope's unknown measurements. Only after dressing in the papal cassock will the new pope greet the public from the balcony, marking the official start of his papacy.

Dive Deeper:

• White smoke from the Sistine Chapel traditionally indicates the election of a new pope, yet there remains a brief period before the new pontiff’s identity is disclosed to the public.

• The announcement of a new pope follows a customary delay, during which a cardinal, such as Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, will declare the identity and chosen name of the new pope from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.

• Inside the Apostolic Palace, Archbishop Diego Ravelli is responsible for certifying the new pope's acceptance and role as the bishop of Rome and head of the College of Bishops, a process guided by the Vatican's established procedures.

• The newly elected pope will visit the Room of Tears, where he will first wear the white papal cassock. The room is stocked with garments and shoes in various sizes to accommodate the unknown dimensions of the new pope.

• The Room of Tears is so named due to accounts of emotional overwhelm experienced by previous popes upon their election, reflecting the gravity of the moment.

• Following these preparations, the newly vested pope will appear on the balcony to greet the public, officially commencing his tenure as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

• The process of electing and introducing a new pope is steeped in traditional rituals and formalities, underscoring the significance and solemnity of the occasion.