Pope Elected, White Smoke Appears Over Vatican [Live Video]

A new pope has been elected by the papal conclave, reports indicate, as white smoke appears over Vatican City.

Crowds gathered outside the historic papal conclave following the resignation of Pope Benedict cheered as the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica pealed to signal the election of a new pope.

After the white smoke, French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran is expected to address waiting crowds outside St. Peter’s Basilica to announce the name of the new Pope. CNN reports that the new Pope’s name is still a ways to come, as several steps have to be taken before the revelation in Vatican City.

The network says:

“The new pope will leave the Sistine Chapel to put on his papal robes, then re-enter the chapel for prayer with the cardinals … The [new] pope will … go back to Pauline Chapel to pray for a few moments …. Only then will the pope prepare to reveal himself to the public. At the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, proto-deacon Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (assuming Tauran himself wasn’t elected) will appear and announce the new pope’s old name, and the name he will be known as from now on.”

As the world awaits the announcement out of Vatican City, gathered crowds are said to be jubilant and clamoring to the balcony where the newly elected Pope will greet Catholics, waiting to watch history unfold outside St. Peter’s.

Below, a live video feed outside the papal conclave as the new Pope is announced.