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White smoke over Sistine Chapel signals election of new pope

The Catholic church has a new leader, although the world is still waiting to find out who it is.

White smoke swirled from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday at 7:05 CET (2:05 ET) after the fifth round of voting by the 115 cardinals in the conclave. Since a two-third majority is required to elect a new pope, the appointed pontiff received at least 77 votes.

In the next hour, it is expected that the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica will ring, confirming the election of the new pontiff. Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, will then appear on the balcony of St. Peter’s to shout “Habemus Papam!” which means “we have a pope!” The new pope will then be seen by the world for the first time, and presented in his white papal cassocks.

The new pope will lead the 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide.