White smoke signals conclave has chosen new pope

2013-03-13 209

Rough Cut (no reporter narration)

White smoke rose from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday (March 13), signaling cardinals had elected a new pope to succeed Benedict and take charge of the troubled Roman Catholic Church.

The election, on the first full day of voting by the 115 cardinals, came more quickly than many had expected after no obvious front runner had emerged following the surprise abdication of Benedict last month.