As the College of Cardinals gathers in the Sistine Chapel to vote for a new pope, crowds outside will watch for the most dramatic moment of the conclave, when a wisp of white smoke appears above the chimney. After a short period of time, a cardinal appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and makes the announcement in Latin: 'Habemus papam!' ' 'We have a pope!' He then announces which cardinal has been selected and which name the new pope has chosen for himself. I am a scholar who studies Roman Catholic theology and history. I am particularly interested in how popes exercise authority and leadership today, including their use of symbols. When Pope Francis first appeared on that balcony in 2013, he used and adapted the ritual to convey a message about his intentions for his papacy. Over time, certain names have indicated to observers the direction that a pope wished to take or a model whom he wished to emulate. Jorge Mario Bergoglio opted for 'Francis,' the first time that any...
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