Europe EditionUnexpected Star of the Conclave: A Vatican Seagull
- On May 8, 2024, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the election of a new pope during the 2024 conclave in Vatican City.
- This conclave followed the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2024, with 133 cardinal electors voting in secrecy to select his successor under strict Vatican protocols.
- While thousands waited outside St. Peter's Square, a seagull calmly perched beside the chimney became an unexpected symbol, drawing widespread social media attention for its timing and presence.
- A viewer expressed amusement at how the seagull seemed to notice the event before anyone else, highlighting the bird's unexpected role in this longstanding tradition during the historic occasion.
- The conclave's conclusion raised questions about the new pope's leadership direction and whether the seagull might again play a memorable role in Vatican ceremonies.
22 Articles
22 Articles
The curious moment when a seagull regurgitates food for her chick seconds before the white smoke in the Vatican
The whole world was watching over the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. After 6 p.m., everything seemed to indicate that the cardinals were already on their way to the fifth ballot in the Conclave to choose the successor of Francis and that there would have been no smoking until 7 p.m. The cameras pointing to the chimney, however, caught a curious moment. It was 6.06 p.m. and a small chick appeared next to his mother, a seagull who approaches him a…
Unexpected Star of the Conclave: A Vatican Seagull
While many eyes were fixed squarely on the Sistine Chapel's chimney, awaiting the sign of the new pope or further votes in the conclave below, one little guy had an actual bird's eye view of the proceedings—and he or she attracted some attention. As the AP reports, a certain...
Seagulls steal the show at Sistine Chapel
Before the white smoke came, the seagulls next to the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City stole the show. A striking image that raised many questions: "I think the seagulls are nesting there, because we have also seen a small seagull chick".
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