The
Papal conclave of 2013 was convened to elect a
pope to succeed
Pope Benedict XVI following his
resignation on 28 February 2013. After the 115 participating
cardinal-electors gathered, they set 12 March 2013 as the beginning of the
conclave. White smoke was seen emanating from the Sistine Chapel chimney on 13 March at 19:06 (7:06 PM)
local time, following the fifth ballot, and the bells began pealing minutes after, signifying the election of a new pope. The conclave elected Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, an
Argentine cardinal and
archbishop of Buenos Aires as pontiff, who selected the papal name of
Francis.