New Pope elected by papal conclave with white smoke seen on second day

The papal conclave in the Vatican has chosen the new Pope as white smoke has been seen billowing out from the Sistine Chapel.

A bell has also rung out to mark the election as there was an eruption of applause while people could be heard cheering.

We now await the big reveal of the new Pope’s identity from the balcony of St Peter’s.

Voting ballots are burned with chemicals added in a special furnace to ensure the colour signals the correct result.

For black, the ballots are mixed with cartridges containing potassium perchlorate, anthracene – which is a component of coal tar – and sulfur.

For white, potassium chlorate, lactose and chloroform resin are added to the burning ballots.

White smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signalling that cardinals elected a new Pope (Picture: AFP via Getty Images) People react to the white smoke from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel (Picture: Reuters)

A new Pope requires a two-thirds majority in the voting.

The voting started a behind-closed-doors meeting shortly before 5pm UK time on Wednesday following the death of Pope Francis last month.

As is tradition, the 133 cardinals have been cut off from all communication from the outside world.

They have no phone or internet access and are under oaths of secrecy.

A nun cries as white smoke signals that cardinals elected a new Pope (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

This afternoon voting started at 3.30pm after a morning where the new Pope had not yet been chosen as black smoke could be seen rising.

Four rounds of voting take place each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Smoke only comes out of the chimney up to twice a day, as ballots from two successive rounds are generally burned together if no Pope is chosen in either round.

Pope Francis was elected after five ballots, and white smoke on the second day of that conclave confirmed the news to the world in 2013.

Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected]. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.