White smoke billows from chimney after cardinals reach a decision over 266th Pontiff

Electors sent up white smoke at 6pm GMT indicating that a new Pope had been chosen after two
days of voting
New Pope is expected to appear before thriving crowd on the balcony of St.Peter's Basilica at 7pm GMT
115 Cardinals were locked inside Sistine Chapel with vote closing when a candidate received at least 77 votes
World's 1.2billion Catholics were in turmoil after Benedict XVI's shock resignation last month for health reasons

A new Pope was elected this afternoon after white smoke poured out of the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City signalling the election of a Pontiff to lead the Catholic Church.

Thousands cheered in St. Paul's Square at the sight of the symbolic plumes, announcing that a successor to Benedict XVI had finally been chosen after two days of intense voting.

The new Pope is expected to appear on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica within an hour, after a church official announced 'Habemus Papum - We have a pope'. 

He will first be dressed in his papal robes before joining in prayer with the other cardinals.

The conclave was called after Pope Benedict XVI resigned last month for health reasons, sending the church into turmoil and exposing deep divisions among cardinals tasked with finding a replacement to address issues within the church.