The papal conclave is private election held behind closed doors of Vatican City's Sistine Chapel, where 135 cardinals vote on who will serve as the next the head of the Catholic Church.

The quickest conclave observing the 10-day wait rule appears to have been the 1503 election of Pope Julius II, who was elected in just a few hours, according to Vatican historian Ambrogio Piazzoni.

Update: White smoke poured from the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon at the Vatican, indicating that the cardinal electors in the conclave had chosen a new pope.

White smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel indicating that the College of Cardinals have elected a new Pope on March 13, 2013 in Vatican ... of the Council of European ...

Sister Genevieve Jeanningros was at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican as thousands of mourners waited for hours to say goodbye and see Francis lying in state reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).