A new Pope has been elected.

White smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at around 6.05pm (Irish time).

It means one of the candidates has reached the quota of 77 votes to become the successor to the retired Pope Benedict XVI.

Tens of thousands of spectators crammed into St. Peter's Square to witness the white smoke billowing into the Roman sky.

At the same time, the bells of St. Peter's tolled.

The conclave only officially began yesterday and commentators did not expect a new Pontiff to be elected so soon.

The world now faces an anxious wait to find out who is the new Pope.

His identity will be announced shortly.