White smoke is rising Wednesday from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, indicating the 115 cardinals assembled inside have elected a new pope for the Roman Catholic Church.
Shortly, the world will get its first glimpse of the new pontiff as a senior cardinal steps out onto the central balcony in front the basilica and announces in Latin "habemus papam," or we have a new pope.
The newly elected pontiff will then step out in his papal robes and give the city and world his first blessing.
Earlier, the smoke looked black, but Vatican officials have confirmed the election of a new pontiff.