NEW POPE: POPE FRANCIS I

Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected the 266th pope, making him the leader of the 1.2 billion-strong Roman Catholic Church.

Francis I was elected on Wednesday on the second day of the conclave in Vatican City, after receiving the required two-thirds majority, or at least 77 votes of the 115 cardinal electors from 48 countries.

Francis's election was announced to the world and before hundreds of thousands of cheering crowd gathered under the rain at St Peter's Square in Rome.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the protodeacon, made the announcement with the Latin words, Habemus papam, meaning "We have a pope".

As a sign of the election of a new pope, the Vatican also reactivated the Twitter account @Pontifex.

Francis I succeeds Benedict XVI, who resigned on February 28, the first pontiff to do so in 598 years.

"Noboby expected him to become pope, "People here are crying."

FINALLY: POPE ELECTED ON THE 2ND DAY

White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel signals a new pope has been chosen on Wednesday, March 13

Rome (CNN) -- Cardinals meeting in the Vatican have chosen a new pope to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

White smoke rose from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel Wednesday afternoon, signaling the election.

Bells also rang just after 7 p.m. (2 p.m. ET), confirming that the 115 cardinals had chosen the next pontiff.

The decision happened after

[JUST IN]:THE WORLD NOW HAS A POPE!

Bells ring out across Vatican City and smoke pours from Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling the election of a new pope to succeed Benedict XVI.

2ND DAY: VATICAN CHOOSES POPE

Black smoke billows from the chimney, indicating failure to elect a new pope on March 13

A woman looks to the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on St. Peter's Square, waiting for the smoke

Rome (CNN) -- Expectation is building once again in Rome after the cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel for a second time Wednesday to cast their votes in the secretive conclave for the next pope.

Black smoke was sent up from a chimney fixed to the chapel roof in the morning after two earlier rounds of voting proved inconclusive.

Now all eyes are trained on the chimney again, to see whether any candidate will this time reach the two-thirds majority needed to be elected pope.

The 115 voting cardinals are taking part in the second day of the secretive conclave to elect a new head of the Roman Catholic Church.

If cardinals

BLACK SMOKE: NO POPE YET

Rome (CNN) -- Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel Tuesday night, indicating that cardinals gathered at the Vatican to elect a new pope had not chosen one in the first ballot of their conclave.

INSIDE VATICAN: THE DOORS HAVE BEEN CLOSED...

Nigerian Cardinal Arinze

Rome (CNN) -- The heavy wooden doors to the Sistine Chapel swung closed Tuesday, signaling the start of the secret election, or conclave, in which 115 Roman Catholic cardinals will pick the next pope.

Now all eyes will turn to the chimney installed on the roof of the historic chapel.

From this point on, the only clue the world will have of what is happening inside will be periodic puffs of smoke that follow each round of voting.

Black smoke, no pope. White smoke, success.

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