Jason Horowitz

and of those 133 you need 89 votes you need two-thirds to become pope so that seems simple enough but two-thirds a majority in a college that represents the entire world where not everyone is speaking italian which is supposed to be the working language of the church which probably slowed things down the first night Anyway, it's very difficult to hit that threshold.

and of those 133 you need 89 votes you need two-thirds to become pope so that seems simple enough but two-thirds a majority in a college that represents the entire world where not everyone is speaking italian which is supposed to be the working language of the church which probably slowed things down the first night Anyway, it's very difficult to hit that threshold.

And on the first day, which was Wednesday, they have one vote. And we kind of expected that it would be inconclusive. And in fact, it was. And the way that the church shows that is that black smoke starts billowing out of a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. But when they leave the Sistine Chapel, they're still sequestered. They still have a vow of secrecy, but they aren't taking an oath of silence.

And on the first day, which was Wednesday, they have one vote. And we kind of expected that it would be inconclusive. And in fact, it was. And the way that the church shows that is that black smoke starts billowing out of a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel. But when they leave the Sistine Chapel, they're still sequestered. They still have a vow of secrecy, but they aren't taking an oath of silence.

They're allowed to talk to each other. And that's when the politicking starts, right? So they have seen in that first vote who's a strong candidate, who maybe is softer than they expected. And that's the really interesting part. And, you know, it could be over the cafeteria table. It could be people visiting one another's rooms. It could be hallway discussions.

They're allowed to talk to each other. And that's when the politicking starts, right? So they have seen in that first vote who's a strong candidate, who maybe is softer than they expected. And that's the really interesting part. And, you know, it could be over the cafeteria table. It could be people visiting one another's rooms. It could be hallway discussions.

But I think what is happening inside is candidates are realizing whether or not they have the votes or not. And that's when coalitions start building because a candidate who thought

But I think what is happening inside is candidates are realizing whether or not they have the votes or not. And that's when coalitions start building because a candidate who thought

maybe he could be pope realizes he won't be pope and so what does he do with his support does he want to throw it to a candidate that he supports to prevent to block somebody he doesn't want so that's when all the regional dynamics all the political dynamics all the theological dynamics really come together and it's all out of view

maybe he could be pope realizes he won't be pope and so what does he do with his support does he want to throw it to a candidate that he supports to prevent to block somebody he doesn't want so that's when all the regional dynamics all the political dynamics all the theological dynamics really come together and it's all out of view

So they came back the next morning and we came back the next morning and they started voting again and we started looking at the chimney again. And pretty early in the day, we saw a black smoke, which meant that, again, they had not found their candidate.

So they came back the next morning and we came back the next morning and they started voting again and we started looking at the chimney again. And pretty early in the day, we saw a black smoke, which meant that, again, they had not found their candidate.

But it was sort of a strange thing because throughout the day, just amongst insiders and people who follow this, there was sort of a sense that maybe though this afternoon, they would sort of form a consensus and that the smoke might not be black. And once you realize it's white, you realize that something momentous has happened. And then a few minutes later, the bell of St.

But it was sort of a strange thing because throughout the day, just amongst insiders and people who follow this, there was sort of a sense that maybe though this afternoon, they would sort of form a consensus and that the smoke might not be black. And once you realize it's white, you realize that something momentous has happened. And then a few minutes later, the bell of St.

Peter's Basilica starts tolling. And marching bands start surrounding the square. And the Swiss guards start marching up. And all of a sudden, you're back in a royal court from 600 years ago. And then the curtains part and a cardinal dressed in red comes out onto the balcony. And the first thing he says is, Habemus Papam. Habemus Papam, which means we have a pope.

Peter's Basilica starts tolling. And marching bands start surrounding the square. And the Swiss guards start marching up. And all of a sudden, you're back in a royal court from 600 years ago. And then the curtains part and a cardinal dressed in red comes out onto the balcony. And the first thing he says is, Habemus Papam. Habemus Papam, which means we have a pope.

And then speaking in Latin, he says the name of that pope.

And then speaking in Latin, he says the name of that pope.

And for the first time, we hear the words Robert Francis Praevost.

And for the first time, we hear the words Robert Francis Praevost.