NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with art historian Kim Butler about the artwork that adorns the walls of the Sistine Chapel and its significance ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.

Black smoke has billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney after the first round of voting by the College of Cardinals, indicating a new pope has yet to be elected.

VATICAN CITY — Cardinals returned to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to resume voting for a new pope and crowds flocked back to St. Peter’s Square to await their decision, after the first ...

The renowned Sistine Chapel is a chapel within the Apostolic Palace, which is the pope’s official residence in Vatican City. Although, it was not always known by that name.

White smoke over the Sistine Chapel on Thursday signaled that the College of Cardinals have elected a new pope, but the identity of the Pope remains unknown.

Cardinals failed again Thursday morning to find a successor to Pope Francis, sending black smoke billowing up through the Sistine Chapel chimney after two more inconclusive rounds of conclave voting.

As the papal conclave is set to begin to elect a new pope, the eyes of the world are on the Sistine Chapel, which will hold the Catholic cardinals as they cast their votes for the next leader of ...

White smoke has risen out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signifying that a new pope has been elected. All eyes were on the smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel on May 8 as 133 cardinals voted ...

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday evening to the watchful eyes of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square as the first day of conclave voting concluded without a new ...

Black smoke streamed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the more than 130 cardinal electors have not come to a two-thirds agreement about who the next pope should be.

Throughout the entire papal conclave, which began Wednesday, May 7, seagulls were spotted hoping around the Sistine Chapel chimney. A seagull chick even made an appearance a few times.

The Sistine Chapel is a chapel within the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. It's also the site of the papal conclave. Here is a ...