When the smoke bellowed out of Sistine Chapel it was a happy surpise to faithful gathered as they saw that the smoke was white.
All eyes now at the window of the Papal apartment as they await the announcement of the new Pope.
A Swiss guard band will play the Vatican hymn. The band is marching into St. Peter's Square to welcome the new pope.
FYI from Wikipedia: The Swiss Guard is a small force maintained by the Holy See, it is responsible for the safety of the Pope, including the security of the Apostolic Palace. The Swiss Guard serves as the de facto military of Vatican City.
BBC commentators are talking about the Pope app and waiting for the Pope in the age of Twitter.
The new pope will be the head of a global congregation of around 1.2 billion Catholics.
Crowds chanting viva il papa.
All eyes on the balcony of St. Peter's... waiting for the big announcement.
You can watch the 'Special broadcast waiting for the election of the Pope' on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QU2w-gTyXBM&feature=player_embedded
Vatican website reads "HABEMVS PAPAM," restores tiara symbolizing end of Sede Vacante
The 266th pope in the Catholic Church's 2,000-year history... his identity is still a secret... is due to emerge from the balcony of the basilica.
The crowd is chanting "Habemus Papam!" ("We Have a Pope!") as they wait, waving flags from around the world.
Cardinals have been locked up behind the Vatican walls and cut off from the outside world since Tuesday.
The smoke from the chimney was produced by burning the ballots and setting off smoke flares in two stoves specially installed in a corner of the chapel.
Frontrunners at the conclave include Brazilian Odilo Scherer - who would be the first non-European pope since Syrian-born Gregory III, nearly 1,300 years ago...
and...
Italy's Angelo Scola, who would return the papacy to traditional Italian hands after 35 years of the German Benedict XVI and Polish John Paul II.
The cardinals were shut inside for the secret election under Michelangelo's luminous frescos on Tuesday after a day of religious pomp and prayer to prepare for the task.
Vatican Radio: Italian security forces say well over 100,000 people in St. Peter’s Square
Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina is the next leader of the Catholic Church
Francis the First is the new pope's papal name
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio's new name is Francis I. He is 76 years old, and is the first Jesuit pope.
"I wish to say a prayer for the Benedict XVI - the Pope Emeritus," says new pope. "Let us pray for the whole world so that there is great brotherhood."
"Let's begin this journey, bishop and people, journey of brotherhood, love and trust among us," says new pope.
Pope Francis leads prayers as he addresses the faithful gathered at St Peter's square
Before wearing the papal pallium, Pope Francis asked the people to pray over him.
A new Roman Pontiff was appointed as the church bells tolled along with happy chants of the crowds gathered when the white smoke emerged.