Pope Leo XIV will be the Catholic Church's 267th leader.
VATICAN CITY -- The temporary chimney atop the Sistine Chapel released a plume of white smoke on Thursday evening local time, signaling that the 133 cardinals working inside had reached a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope for the Catholic Church.
American Cardinal Robert Prevost was shortly thereafter announced as the 267th pontiff. He chose the name Leo XIV, a senior cardinal deacon announced.
The 69-year-old Chicago native is the first American pope and is seen as a diplomat in the church.
"This is the first greeting of the risen Christ. May the peace be with you," Leo said in Italian in his first remarks as pope. "This is the peace of the risen Christ."
(The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.)
Pope Leo XIV - history-making, the first American Pope. Now, David Muir reports from the Vatican in the breaking, new "20/20" special edition. Watch the premiere of "The American Pope | Leo XIV" tonight at 9/8c on ABC. Stream on Hulu and Disney+
Black smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave.
That meant that no new pope had been elected by the cardinals.
It signified the end of the second round of voting -- and three ballots -- with no consensus.
The cardinals planned to take a break for lunch before beginning their next round of voting.
Eyewitness News Anchor Joe Torres reports from the Vatican.
An estimated 45,000 people gathered in St Peter's Square to await the results of the first conclave vote, which had been expected some time after 7 p.m. but ended up coming in around 9 p.m., according to Vatican News.
After failing to come to a consensus, the College of Cardinals have gathered on Thursday morning for the second day of conclave, with up to four more opportunities for them to select the 267th pope.
-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson
Crowds of people gathered to enter St. Peter's Square for day two of the conclave, hopeful that the first full day of voting by cardinal electors will produce a new pope.
More than 30,000 people gathered in the square on Wednesday to wait for the results of the first round of voting.
As the second day of voting is set to begin, the next person elected pope will need at least 89 votes in order to achieve the majority from the College of Cardinals.
With no majority being achieved last night on the very first vote, Thursday presents up to four voting opportunities -- two in the morning and two in the evening -- bringing with it a possibility that the cardinals might coalesce around one of the candidates.
