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White Smoke from Sistine Chapel Signals Cardinal Prevost is Chosen as New Pope
On May 8, 2025, white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the College of Cardinals has chosen a new pope. The event marks the end of a brief conclave, with cardinals reaching the necessary two-thirds majority after just four ballots. The announcement was greeted with excitement as thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, eagerly waiting for the new pope’s first appearance.
The newly elected pope is Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who has chosen the name Pope Leo XIV. Cardinal Prevost, originally from Chicago, has deep ties to both the U.S. and Europe, with Italian, French, and Spanish ancestry. He joined the Order of St. Augustine in 1977 and has spent a significant part of his career in Peru, where he became well-respected for his balanced leadership and international perspective. His election is historic, as he is the first American to be elected pope.
The first public announcement came when Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the senior cardinal deacon, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and declared, “Habemus Papam!” (“We have a pope!”). Pope Leo XIV then emerged, offering his first blessing and addressing the faithful gathered in the square.
The conclave that led to this election was completed in a remarkable amount of time, with the cardinals quickly reaching a decision.
The new pope’s first address touched on themes of unity, compassion, and dialogue. Additionally , he paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, and urged the Church to focus on helping those in need. Also, he took a moment to speak in Spanish, acknowledging the people of Peru, a country with which he has strong ties.
Moreover, this election follows the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The conclave began on May 7 and ended on May 8, with the fourth ballot deciding the new pope. The tradition of signaling a new pope with white smoke dates back many centuries. The smoke is created by burning the ballots, mixed with chemicals to produce the white color, and is released through the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. It’s a moment that has become a defining part of the papal election process.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
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