By Joshua McElwee, Crispian Balmer and Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St. Peter's rang out on Thursday, signalling that cardinals have elected a new pope to succeed Pope Francis and take charge of the Roman Catholic Church.

Cardinals from all over the world will gather in conclave on Wednesday to elect a successor to Pope Francis. There were 135 cardinal electors when Pope Francis died, but two are not attending the conclave,

While the cardinals are known to wear their scarlet red attire, some individuals involved in conclave proceedings were seen in black and purple vestments. Colors often represent the different ranks of the Catholic Church. The pope is usually dressed in ...

Catholic cardinals gather and sequester themselves in the Vatican for the start of a conclave to elect a new pope.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo led the Sioux City diocese as bishop for six years during the early 2000s. The 75-year-old is participating in his second conclave after being an elector during the 2013 papal conclave that selected Pope Francis, who died last month at the age of 88.

Catholic cardinals will sequester themselves Wednesday behind the Vatican’s medieval walls for the start of a conclave to elect the 267th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

Cardinal Michael Czerny said that when Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was elected pope and chose the name Leo XIV,

The Catholic Church has issued a warning to its clergy in Washington state: Any priest who complies with a new law requiring the reporting of child abuse confessions to authorities will be excommunicated.