When Catholics around the world welcomed the first American pope, AP reporter Nicole Winfield was on the ground in Vatican City.

All 133 cardinals are gathered in the Sistine Chapel for the Conclave under strict secrecy, as the world watches and waits for the election of a new pope. Black smoke rose from the chimney around 9 pm ...

VATICAN CITY — The first day of a secretive Vatican conclave ended Tuesday with black smoke billowing out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling that cardinals had yet to decide on a new pope. Smoke ...

Following the death of Pope Francis on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, more than 1 billion Catholics around the world wait with baited breath for the white smoke to emit from the Sistine Chapel, ...

The smoke used to signify to the public whether a new pope has been elected is a centuries-old tradition that has been slightly modernized by the Catholic Church during recent conclaves. DC Mayor ...