Cardinals gather in secret after Pope Francis's burial to elect a new leader. The world watches for smoke from the Sistine ...

When a new pope is elected, there are two signs that mark that historic moment: the white smoke from the chimney of the ...

After every round of voting during a conclave, the ballots are burned with chemicals in a process that enables the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel to communicate with the outside world. Ballots from ...

including a special sermon led by one of the church's top officials, Matthew Gabriele, a medieval studies professor at Virginia Tech, previously told USA TODAY. White or black smoke could be ...

Of all the ceremonies associated with electing a new pope, the one most familiar to the general public is the smoke that emanates from a stovepipe chi ...

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been selected as the 267th pope in history. He is the first American to serve in the role ...

If black smoke plumes over the Vatican, observers know a new pope has yet to be chosen. If white smoke is spotted, folks will know a new pope has been selected to lead the Catholic Church.

Here’s a look at some of the leading papal contenders, with the proviso that favorites don’t typically end up getting the nod ...

Tradition holds that black smoke indicates the cardinals have not yet agreed on a new leader, while white smoke signals that a new Pope has been elected. But what kind of smoke is it exactly?