The next pope will be the Catholic Church's 267th leader.
VATICAN CITY -- White smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that a pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church.
That means the winner secured at least 89 votes of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis. The crowd in St. Peter's Square erupted in cheers. The name will be announced later, when a top cardinal utters the words "Habemus papam!" Latin for "We have a pope!" from the loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. The cardinal then reads the winner's birth name in Latin, and reveals the name he has chosen to be called.
The new pope is then expected to make his first public appearance and impart a blessing from the same loggia.
(The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.)
White smoke was seen emanating from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that a two-thirds vote has been reached to elect the new pope.
Thousands of people cheered in Vatican Square when the smoke appeared.
Black smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave.
That meant that no new pope had been elected by the cardinals.
It signified the end of the second round of voting -- and three ballots -- with no consensus.
The cardinals planned to take a break for lunch before beginning their next round of voting.
Eyewitness News Anchor Joe Torres reports from the Vatican.
An estimated 45,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square to await the results of the first conclave vote, which had been expected some time after 7 p.m. but ended up coming in around 9 p.m., according to Vatican News.
After failing to come to a consensus, the College of Cardinals have gathered on Thursday morning for the second day of conclave, with up to four more opportunities for them to select the 267th pope.
-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson
Crowds of people gathered to enter St. Peter's Square for day two of the conclave, hopeful that the first full day of voting by cardinal electors will produce a new pope.
More than 30,000 people gathered in the square on Wednesday to wait for the results of the first round of voting.
As the second day of voting is set to begin, the next person elected pope will need at least 89 votes in order to achieve the majority from the College of Cardinals.
With no majority being achieved last night on the very first vote, Thursday presents up to four voting opportunities -- two in the morning and two in the evening -- bringing with it a possibility that the cardinals might coalesce around one of the candidates.
