Pope Leo XIV calls for end to wars in Ukraine, Gaza
Pope Leo XIV was elected as the Catholic Church's 267th leader on Thursday.
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."
Tune in to "The American Pope: Leo XIV," a special edition of "20/20," streaming now on Hulu and Disney+.
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Cardinals to return for day 2 of voting
Cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday after the first voting session of the conclave on Wednesday failed to find consensus on who will become the next pope.
The electors are expected to participate in four rounds of voting through the course of the day.
The cardinals will gather for a mass in the Pauline Chapel at around 8 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), after which they will return to the Sistine Chapel at around 9:15 a.m. to vote.
Two ballot burnings are planned. One is expected at the end of the morning around 12 p.m. and the second in the evening at around 7 p.m.
-ABC News' Phoebe Natanson, Clark Bentson and Joe Simonetti
Cardinals retire for the night
The cardinals participating in the conclave have now retired for the evening to Santa Marta, a building adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Vatican guesthouses are located.
They will return to the Sistine Chapel for the first full day of the conclave on Thursday morning.
On Day 2, the cardinals will begin their day with a mass in the Pauline Chapel and then retreat to the Sistine Chapel for voting. They will participate in four rounds of voting, with two burnings of the ballots planned, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Voting will continue until they reach a two-thirds majority to elect a new pope.
-ABC News' Clark Bentson and Phoebe Natanson
Black smoke emerges from Sistine Chapel
The first day of voting at the papal conclave has concluded.
Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, signifying that the next pope has not yet been elected.
A crowd of more than 30,000 cheered as the first round of smoke from the conclave appeared.
When white smoke emanates from the chimney, it will mean the next leader of the Catholic Church has been chosen.
The conclave will commence for a second day of voting on Thursday.
How long will the conclave last?
A new pope could be elected as soon as the first ballot on Wednesday, or the process could continue for days. Since 1831, no conclave has lasted more than four days.
Up to four rounds of voting typically take place in a day. If no clear choice has emerged after three days, balloting is suspended for 24 hours to allow cardinal electors time to reflect. Another seven rounds of balloting then takes place, followed by another break, and so on.
If no pope is elected after 33 or 34 votes -- generally about 13 days -- then a new rule introduced by Pope Benedict XVI decrees the two leading candidates as determined by previous ballots will engage in a runoff vote. If the candidates are members of the conclave, they cannot vote in the runoff but are present for it. Whichever candidate receives the necessary two-thirds majority of the votes is the new pope.
Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the archbishop of Algiers, told ABC News it would be "unexpected" if the conclave goes past Friday.