White smoke at Vatican: New Pope of Catholic Church elected after Francis' death

White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling that cardinals locked inside have elected a new leader for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Thousands of pilgrims and curious onlookers in St Peter's Square cheered and applauded as the smoke appeared and bells began to ring, indicating the 2,000-year-old institution has its 267th pope.

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All eyes now turn to the balcony of St Peter's Basilica, to see who has been elected to succeed Pope Francis, an Argentine reformer who died last month after 12 years as leader of the worldwide Church.

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The new pontiff will be introduced in Latin with his chosen papal name and address the world for the first time.

As is the tradition, white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel means that a new Pope has been chosen with a senior cardinal confirming it by saying 'Habemus Papam' in Latin, which means 'We have a new Pope.'

The 133 Catholic cardinals, who elected the new Pope, had earlier on Wednesday, May 7, gathered to pray in the Vatican's Pauline Chapel ahead of the conclave, according to images broadcast live by the Holy See.

The cardinals had then moved in procession to the Sistine Chapel a few metres away, where they were locked in ahead of a first vote on Wednesday evening for a successor to Pope Francis.

But thick black smoke emerged from the Chapel's chimney, according to AFP journalists, in a sign that cardinals failed to elect a new Pope in their first conclave vote.

Since then they had twice sent up black smoke, the latest at Thursday lunchtime, to let the world know that no one had yet secured the two-thirds majority required to be elected pontiff.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff and a powerful voice for compassion and reform in the Catholic Church, died at the age of 88.

The Vatican announced his passing in a video statement on Monday, April 21, marking the end of a 12-year papacy defined by humility, bold change, and a relentless focus on the marginalised — despite years of declining health.

Pope Francis and the UAE had an enduring, cordial, and fruitful relationship that spanned almost a decade.

(With inputs from AFP/Reuters)