Catholic cardinals elect new pope, white smoke billows from Sistine Chapel

VATICAN CITY — White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St. Peter’s rang out on Thursday, May 8, signaling that cardinals have elected a new pope to succeed Pope Francis and take charge of the Roman Catholic Church.

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The election came on the first full day of voting by the 133 cardinal electors, who secluded themselves behind the Vatican’s medieval walls on Wednesday afternoon.

A joyous crowd in St. Peter’s Square cheered...