White smoke poured from the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon at the Vatican, indicating that the cardinal electors in the conclave had chosen a new pope. The article below predates that decisive vote by the cardinals.

More than 130 cardinals from all over the world are gathering today for the papal conclave, through which a new head of the Catholic Church is elected.

The 133 cardinals tasked with electing the next leader of the Catholic Church had their first vote on Wednesday.