CARDINALS ELECT NEW POPE
White smoke has appeared from the Vatican and bells have rung out signalling that a new Pope has been elected.
The new leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics succeeds John Paul II, who died on April 2 aged 84.
Soon one of the cardinals will announce: "Habemus papem" - "We have a Pope."
The name of the new Pope is expected to be announced shortly.
His election was signalled by a plume of white smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
In line with tradition, this was followed by the pealing of bells from St Peter's Basilica.
Thousands of pilgrims had gathered in St Peter's Square eagerly awaiting the conclave of Cardinals' decisive ballot.
The conclave was made up of 115 Cardinals from 52 countries.
They began voting on Monday after a nine-day period of mourning for John Paul.
It was expected to take three or four days for a winner to emerge.
Observers say the new Pope - the 265th - will find the Catholic Church in a state of disarray.
It has been rocked by a series of sex abuse scandals and church attendances in Europe have been plummeting.
The choice facing the new leader is whether to deal with the problems by falling back on traditional doctrine - or modernising.
