Pope Francis, the Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, appears on the St. Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 13, at the Vatican.
Vatican prepares to choose a pope —
Pope Francis, the Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, appears on the St. Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 13, at the Vatican.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel signals a new pope has been chosen on Wednesday, March 13. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, needed to reach a two-thirds plus one vote to elect the 266th pontiff.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel signals a new pope has been chosen on Wednesday, March 13. The 115 cardinal-electors, meeting in strict secrecy, needed to reach a two-thirds plus one vote to elect the 266th pontiff.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
A woman looks to the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on St. Peter's Square, waiting for the smoke on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A woman looks to the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on St. Peter's Square, waiting for the smoke on March 13.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
Black smoke billows from the chimney, indicating that the College of Cardinals has failed to elect a new pope on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Black smoke billows from the chimney, indicating that the College of Cardinals has failed to elect a new pope on March 13.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
A woman prays while she waits for the selection of a new pope on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A woman prays while she waits for the selection of a new pope on March 13.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
A nun waits for the results at the Vatican on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A nun waits for the results at the Vatican on March 13.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
People use flags as shelter from the rain on March 13 in Vatican City.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
People use flags as shelter from the rain on March 13 in Vatican City.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
A seagull stands on a statue of St. Peter as Catholics and other observers await the results on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A seagull stands on a statue of St. Peter as Catholics and other observers await the results on March 13.
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
People wait under umbrellas for the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
People wait under umbrellas for the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A seagull perches on a statue in St. Peter's Square on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A seagull perches on a statue in St. Peter's Square on March 13.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
People shelter under umbrellas while they wait in St. Peter's Square for news on the election of a new pope on March 13 in Vatican City.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
People shelter under umbrellas while they wait in St. Peter's Square for news on the election of a new pope on March 13 in Vatican City.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Crowds gather in St. Peter's Square on the second day of the conclave on March 13.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Crowds gather in St. Peter's Square on the second day of the conclave on March 13.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Cardinals attend the religious Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Vatican City, on March 12. The Catholic Church's 115 cardinal electors are taking part in the Mass ahead of entering the conclave for a papal election that observers say has no clear favorite.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Cardinals attend the religious Mass Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, Vatican City, on March 12. The Catholic Church's 115 cardinal electors are taking part in the Mass ahead of entering the conclave for a papal election that observers say has no clear favorite.
MICHAEL KAPPELER /DPA/Landov
A pilgrim prays in St. Peter's Square as cardinals attend mass before entering the conclave on March 12, in Vatican City, Vatican. <br />
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A pilgrim prays in St. Peter's Square as cardinals attend mass before entering the conclave on March 12, in Vatican City, Vatican.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
A few pilgrims are present in St. Peter's Square as night falls on Monday, March 11.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
A few pilgrims are present in St. Peter's Square as night falls on Monday, March 11.
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
St. Peter's Basilica is seen at sunset on the eve of the conclave on March 11.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
St. Peter's Basilica is seen at sunset on the eve of the conclave on March 11.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images)
Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan is surrounded by media on March 11 as he leaves the final congregation before cardinals enter the conclave to vote for a new pope.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Nigerian Cardinal John Onaiyekan is surrounded by media on March 11 as he leaves the final congregation before cardinals enter the conclave to vote for a new pope.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet is photographed by media as he leaves the final congregation on March 11.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet is photographed by media as he leaves the final congregation on March 11.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Fernando Canini, administrator of the Museo delle Cere (wax museum), prepares the figure of Pope Benedict XVI at the museum on March 11 in Rome.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Fernando Canini, administrator of the Museo delle Cere (wax museum), prepares the figure of Pope Benedict XVI at the museum on March 11 in Rome.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Tourists take in the view from the cupola on St. Peter's Basilica on March 10.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Tourists take in the view from the cupola on St. Peter's Basilica on March 10.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
People gather at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 10, ahead of the cardinals' conclave.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
People gather at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday, March 10, ahead of the cardinals' conclave.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Nuns pray inside St. Peter's Basilica on March 10.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Nuns pray inside St. Peter's Basilica on March 10.
JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
Priests pray in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday, March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Priests pray in front of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday, March 9.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Vatican City firefighters set up the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on March 9 ahead of the papal conclave.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Vatican City firefighters set up the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on March 9 ahead of the papal conclave.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Vatican workers made final preparations on the Sistine Chapel on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Vatican workers made final preparations on the Sistine Chapel on March 9.
GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the Vatican Fire Brigade install the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Members of the Vatican Fire Brigade install the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel on March 9.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
Workers set up inside the Sistine Chapel as preparations begin before the papal conclave on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Workers set up inside the Sistine Chapel as preparations begin before the papal conclave on March 9.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
The sun sets over St Peter's Basilica as cardinals prepare to vote for a new pope on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
The sun sets over St Peter's Basilica as cardinals prepare to vote for a new pope on March 9.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin greets colleagues as he arrives for a pre-conclave meeting on Saturday, March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin greets colleagues as he arrives for a pre-conclave meeting on Saturday, March 9.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
The stoves that will signal the outcome of papal voting are installed inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on March 8.
Photos: Vatican prepares to choose a pope —
The stoves that will signal the outcome of papal voting are installed inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on March 8.
OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/Getty Images
Italian Cardinals Angelo Scola (left) and Ennio Antonelli arrive for a pre-conclave meeting on Friday, March 8.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Italian Cardinals Angelo Scola (left) and Ennio Antonelli arrive for a pre-conclave meeting on Friday, March 8.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana arrives at the Vatican on March 8.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana arrives at the Vatican on March 8.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Colombia arrives for a meeting on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez of Colombia arrives for a meeting on March 9.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan of the United States arrives for a meeting on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan of the United States arrives for a meeting on March 9.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Cardinals Odilo Scherrer (left) of Brazil and Geraldo Agnelo of Italy arrive for a meeting at the Vatican on March 9.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Cardinals Odilo Scherrer (left) of Brazil and Geraldo Agnelo of Italy arrive for a meeting at the Vatican on March 9.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Two painters prepare the walls of the Sistine Chapel on Friday, March 8 in advance of the papal conclave.
Vatican chooses a new pope —
Two painters prepare the walls of the Sistine Chapel on Friday, March 8 in advance of the papal conclave.
OSSERVATORE ROMANO/AFP/Getty Images
Photos: Vatican prepares to choose a pope
Rome CNN  — 

The conclave in numbers

115

Number of cardinal electors in the conclave to elect the new pope

67

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VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 06: Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (L) and archbishop of Mexico City cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera (2nd L) attend a meeting of prayer at St. Peter's Basilica on March 6, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The start-date of the conclave to elect a new Pope, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, has yet to be confirmed as many cardinals have sought more time to discuss the issues currently facing the Catholic church. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 06: Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (L) and archbishop of Mexico City cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera (2nd L) attend a meeting of prayer at St. Peter's Basilica on March 6, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. The start-date of the conclave to elect a new Pope, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, has yet to be confirmed as many cardinals have sought more time to discuss the issues currently facing the Catholic church. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
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Number of cardinal electors appointed by Benedict XVI

48

Number of cardinal electors appointed by John Paul II

77

Number of votes to be elected pope (2/3 of 115, rounded up)

48

Number of countries cardinal electors come from

28

Number of cardinal electors from Italy, which has the largest contingent

11

Number of cardinal electors from the United States, the second-largest

35

Number of countries that have one elector each

53

Age of the youngest cardinal elector, Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal of India

80

Age of the oldest cardinal elector, Walter Kasper of Germany (Kasper turned 80 on March 5 but is allowed to be an elector because he was under 80 when the papal throne became vacant)

58

Age of Pope John Paul II at election in 1978

26.5 years

Length of John Paul II’s reign

78

Age of Pope Benedict XVI at election in 2005

Nearly 8 years

Length of Benedict XVI’s reign

Journalist Noah Gray contributed to this report.