| White smoke emerges from Sistine Chapel | White smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney and the bells of St Peter's Basilica rang out to herald the election of the new pope, successor to Benedict XVI, who resigned last month. The new pontiff gained the required two-thirds majority only a day after the 115 voting cardinals had gathered to begin the conclave. Joseph Ratzinger was elected at the fourth round on the second day of the conclave in 2005. Even though no clear favourite had emerged ahead of the beginning of the conclave, the bookmakers had expected a relatively short process. The Vatican will now look to its new head to modernise the church's central administration, tackle the clerical sex abuse scandal and combat the rising tide of secularism. http://link.ft.com/r/XYEWFF/SU6CHX/HDGAS1/U1SDLE/6ASRWE/36/h?a1=2013&a2=3&a3=13 | | |