The honour of announcing the next leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics will fall to French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who will proclaim the outcome of the conclave from St Peter's Basilica.
The Bach-loving former Vatican diplomat will speak in Latin on a porch over St Peter’s Square after the conclave of cardinals announces a new pope has been elected by sending out white smoke from the Sistine Chapel.
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“Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus papam! (I announce to you a great joy. We have a pope!)”, Tauran will say and then announce the name of the elected cardinal and the papal title he has chosen.
The 70-year-old from Bordeaux has the official title of ‘cardinal proto-deacon’, meaning he is the most senior cardinal from the order of deacons.
Tauran used to be the top Vatican official for inter-religious dialogue and travelled the world for late pope John Paul II.