White Smoke Rises From Sistine Chapel – New Pope Elected

A white plume of smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, has been observed. The conclave of cardinals has elected the next pope.

Earlier today a conclave of Roman Catholic cardinals picked the 266th pontiff, Jorge Mario Bergoglio who will be known as Pope Francis. The 76-year-old is the first Latin American pope and first non-European leader of the church in more than a millennia. The first Jesuit pope, the new man in white also is the first pope to use to the name Francis, a name often connected St. Francis of Assisi and with virtues like poverty and humility.