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The Catholic Church is currently in the process of electing the new Supreme Pontiff, who will succeed the late Pope Francis. The conclave taking place in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is crucial for the future of the Catholic faithful, who are eager to know the name of the new representative of God on Earth. The moment of the announcement is one of the most eagerly awaited, especially when the traditional expression 'Habemus Papam' is pronounced.
These are two words of amazing depth, full of symbolism and yet few know the origin. The expression comes from Latin and its literal translation is "we have a Pope", which is usually used at the moment when the expected vote takes place and one of the cardinals obtains the necessary .
First records of the expression 'Habemus Papam'
It is in the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica where, in front of thousands of attendees and television cameras, the person in charge of pronouncing these words addresses the world to explain who the chosen one is and what name he has adopted as the new Pope.
'Habemus Papam' does not really have its origins in the early days of the religion, as the early pontiffs were not proclaimed at such a public event. The exact timing of its first uses is not entirely clear, although early records are known from the Middle Ages.
It was from this time onwards that the election of a Pope was regarded as a relevant event worthy of worldwide attention. This is why the formula 'Habemus Papam' became particularly important, gaining more and more notoriety and, since then, becoming a symbol of Christianity. It is a way for religion, despite the inexorable age of time, to remain faithful to its custom and to preserve certain expressions that allow it to maintain a certain perspective.