As the papal conclave is set to begin to elect a new pope, the eyes of the world are on the Sistine Chapel, which will hold the Catholic cardinals as they cast their votes for the next leader of the ...

More than 130 Catholic cardinals on Wednesday began the secretive, centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis, opening the most geographically diverse conclave in the faith’s 2,000-year ...

White smoke is pouring out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that a pope has been elected to lead the Catholic Church, as the crowd in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers.

The smoke billowed out at 9 p.m. Wednesday, some four hours after 133 cardinals solemnly entered the Sistine Chapel, took their oaths of secrecy and formally opened the centuries-old ritual.

The cardinals will pray and talk and vote, while millions watch the Sistine Chapel chimney, looking for the white smoke that will signal a new era for the Catholic Church under a new Pope. Ruth ...

The Sistine Chapel is furnished with tables ... are about to cast is who they sincerely believe should lead the Catholic Church. The conclave is imminent, but the cardinals are more discordant ...