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OUR SUNDAY VISITOR'S COVERAGE: Prayer for Pope Francis | OSV President: The lessons of conclave 2013 | Papal Transition 2013 News Round-Up

White smoke signals new Pope

His Holiness, Pope Francis stepped to the balcony at Saint Peter’s to greet pilgrims at the Vatican and around the world as the leader of the world’s Catholics. White smoke started billowing out of the papal chimney at the Vatican Wednesday afternoon shortly after 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Our new Pope, who is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has now donned the papal vestments and has taken the new name Francis as our 266th Pontiff.

Check back frequently for updates on this historic development in our Church.