Witness the flock of God!
A seagull was spotted on the roof of the Sistine Chapel just moments before the chimney released white smoke, signaling the election of a new pope on Thursday.
This little grey chick made quite an impression online, appearing amidst the famous backdrop as the smoke billowed out, causing waves of excitement among the crowds in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City.
As the smoke rose, indicating that the Cardinals had selected a successor to Pope Francis, cheers erupted from thousands of onlookers, who eagerly streamed the event live.
“Baby seagulls got folks buzzing in St. Peter’s Square right before the white smoke appeared!” remarked History Professor @mbzepedacortes on X.
Many noted the synchronous arrival of the bird and the smoke as an incredible coincidence.
“It was an astonishing 2 minutes and 22 seconds of baby gulls followed by the smoke!! Habemus Papam,” one user shared online.
Another viewer said, “The baby gulls from the Conclave Cam are the highlight for me.”
Conversely, some suggested the bird’s appearance was more comical than profound, with one observer humorously noting that the mother seagull was bringing food for her young.
“At the start of the video, the seagull seems to be feeding the chick, and then just thirty-nine seconds later, the Pope was named,” another commented, adding a reflection on the signs of the times.
Earlier in the week, seagulls had become unexpected stars as viewers tuned into the live feed from the chimney during the papal conclave.
“I genuinely believe a new pope must have been chosen because every time a seagull shows up, everyone claps and cheers. I’m rooting for that little chick,” wrote an enthusiastic livestream viewer.
On Thursday, the white smoke appeared just after 6 PM local time, following one vote on Wednesday and a total of four votes among the Cardinals after two held that same day.
Cardinal Robert Prebust, hailing from Chicago, was later named as the first pope from the United States, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
