The 133 cardinals decided May 8 after less than a day of voting on a new pope to lead the Catholic Church.
White smoke emerge from the Sistine Chapel shortly after noon (EDT) and set off a wild celebration in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City. The pope is expected to be revealed early in the afternoon.
On the second day of voting, two rounds of ballots were scheduled: the first two in the morning after Mass and a brief prayer at 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. EDT) and then another two, if needed, after 4 p.m. (10 a.m. EDT).
Thick plumes of black smoke appeared from a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel at 11:51 a.m. (5:51 a.m. EDT) to indicate no winners emerged during the morning session. A quick burst of applause broke out among the crowds that had gathered in the square when the smoke began to appear. An estimated 15,000 people were present.
However, white smoke emerge later in the day, signaling that the cardinals had decided on the 266th successor to St. Peter.