A French will announce the name of the future pope

“Habemus Papam!” It is in these terms, pronounced since the main balcony of the Saint-Pierre Basilica of Rome, that the name of the future head of the Catholic Church will be revealed to the general public after the Conclave. An exercise that goes to a different cardinal each time. This time, the responsibility will fall to Mgr Dominique Mamberti, after the election of the successor of Pope Francis.

“Protodiacre voter”

Of Corsican origin, Dominique Mamberti is unknown to the general public but well established in Vatican life. Current prefect of the supreme court of the apostolic signature – Supreme court of the Church which watches over the correct administration of justice within it – this discreet cardinal was, until 2014, secretary of state of the Vatican, equivalent of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Here he is named Cardinal Protodiacre: he becomes the oldest cardinal in the Cardinaux-Diacres order. A position he inherited after changes in the Cardinalice hierarchy, during the consistory of July 1, 2024. After Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran in 2013, it will therefore be the second time in a row that a Frenchman will announce the name of the new pope.