White smoke rises from Sistine Chapel; new pope elected

Story by NBC News
Written by Alastair Jamieson

VATICAN CITY - White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel Wednesday and bells rang out across Rome, signaling to world that the cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church have chosen a new pope.

Cheers, shouts and applause erupted from the soaked crowd that had gathered in St Peter's Square despite torrential rain to await the decision of the 115 cardinal-electors.

The smoke came on the second day of behind-closed-doors voting and marked the beginning to a new era for a church combating scandal and internal strife.

The cardinals are thought to have taken five ballots to reach the two-third majority necessary for a decision.

The name of the new leader of the church's 1.2 billion worshippers was expected to be unveiled imminently on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica overlooking St. Peter's Square. His appearance will be heralded by a Latin announcement begins with the phrase "Habemus Papam!" meaning, "We have a pope!" The papal election follows the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 28. Now known as the Pope Emeritus, he is now in a temporary lakeside residence at Castel Gandolfo while his permanent living quarters inside Vatican City are refurbished.