By Joshua McElwee, Crispian Balmer and Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel and the bells of St. Peter's rang out on Thursday, signalling that cardinals have elected a new pope to succeed Pope Francis and take charge of the Roman Catholic Church.

Watch as white smoke first emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating a new leader of the Catholic Church has been elected.

The Roman Catholic cardinals gathered at the Vatican in Rome have chosen a new pope to lead the church’s 1.4 billion faithful, announcing their decision with a swirl of white smoke from a smokestack above the Sistine Chapel at around 6:10 p.