Seagull's symbol in St. Peter's as the cardinals elect Pope Leo XIV
A symbolic scene unfolded just before the announcement of the pope's election. During the conclave, a seagull with a chick appeared on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Moments later, the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square witnessed white smoke.
What do you need to know?
- A seagull appeared on the roof of the Sistine Chapel just before the new pope's election was announced.
- White smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel announced the election of the new pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, the first American in this position.
- The event took place on Thursday after the fourth round of cardinal voting, which concluded with the election of Leo XIV as the new pope.
A symbolic scene
Just before the announcement of the new pope, a seagull with a chick appeared on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. The mother began feeding the chick, and a few seconds later, white smoke emerged, signifying that the cardinals gathered at the conclave had selected a new pope.
This event caused a stir among the gathered faithful. Many of them regarded the scene as a symbolic sign.
A sign from God or coincidence?
The seagull's presence on the roof of the Sistine Chapel became the subject of numerous comments on social media. Some observers considered the bird's appearance a sign from God, while others noted that seagulls are frequent visitors to St. Peter's Square.
"At first, you can see the seagull feeding the chick," commented one of those in the square. It was even quickly calculated that exactly 39 seconds later, the white smoke appeared, indicating the new pope's election.
New Pope Leo XIV
On Thursday, after the fourth round of voting, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, announcing the new pope's election. Cardinal Robert Prevost, hailing from Chicago, became the first pope from the USA. He took the name Leo XIV.
