What happens after the White Fumata?
When the white smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, it means that the cardinals reached the necessary consensus and canonically chose the new Pope. From that moment on, formal procedures begin.
The last of the deacons cardinals summons the Secretary of the Cardinal College to the electoral classroom, to the master of the papal liturgical celebrations and two ceremonies. Then, the Cardinal Dean – or the Cardinal of greater antiquity, in case of absence of the Dean, as currently the case with Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who does not participate for age reasons – is directed to the chosen one in the name of the College of voters and formulates the ritual question in Latin:
“Accasting choice of you canonically made in the highest Pontiff?” (Do you accept your canonic choice as Supreme Pontiff?)
Once the chosen one gives his consent, he is asked: “How do you want to call yourself?”
-The master of liturgical celebrations, acting as a notary and accompanied by two ceremonies as witnesses, raises formal act of acceptance and the name that the new Pope has chosen.
From that moment, if you have already received the episcopal ordination, the chosen one immediately becomes a bishop of Rome, high pontiff and head of the Bishop’s College. The cardinals then come to pay tribute and obedience.
Next, the new Pope retires to the Tearsa small stay next to the Sistine Chapel, where it dresses for the first time with papal ornaments, prepared in three different sizes. Then, accompanied by ceremonies and the Swiss guard, travel the Control room and the Ducal Hall until reaching Loggia of blessings of the Basilica of San Pedro.
There, Cardinal Protodiácono proclaims the world: “Pope!”. Then, the new Pontiff appears for the first time before the faithful, pronounces some brief words and imparts the blessing City and the Worldbefore retiring again inside the Vatican.
