White smoke pouring out of Sistine Chapel; new pope chosen

The white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at about 7:09 p.m. Nigerian Time, signaling a decisive vote by the 115 cardinals gathered in the chapel below, meaning a new leader has been chosen for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

The new pope is expected to appear on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica within an hour, after a church official announces "Habemus Papum" — "We have a pope" — and gives the name of the new pontiff in Latin.