UPDATE: IT'S BLACK!

No candidate received the two-thirds majority to be elected pope on the first ballot, so the cardinals will try again tomorrow. There are four votes scheduled: Two in the a.m. and two in the p.m., unless a winner is declared sooner. The last election took four ballots, for what it's worth — and here's a complete history of how long these things usually take, in case you're as interested as everyone below. Rest up for tomorrow!

Original Post:

The results of the first papal conclave vote are expected any minute, and the eyes of the world are focused on a three-foot high chimney stack. The College of Cardinals was expected to completed their first vote and send up a signal with result sometime around 7:00 p.m., which just passed. A massive crowd is starting to gather in St. Peter's Square to await word, but if you're stuck somewhere that isn't Vatican City, you can stare at a dedicated live stream of the smoke stack below. Remember: White = Pope. Black = Not yet.

Pretty much every media organization in the world in on Smoke Watch right now. (CNN is even keeping a camera on screen during commercials.) Yes, a watched pot never boils, but on the other hand... if you blink you might miss it.

If you need more up-to-date analysis be sure to check out the Guardian UK's helpful, new website: istherewhitesmoke.com. Or if you're worried you might sleep through it, you can sign up for PopeAlarm and they can send you text to wake you up as soon as it's over.

If the first puff of smoke comes out black, there will be no more votes today, but two more are scheduled for Wednesday morning, and two more in the afternoon if those don't do the trick. Until then, expect a lot more of this:

The catholic world awaits, and watches a chimney - twitter.com/felix85/status…

— DamoS (@felix85) March 12, 2013

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Dashiell Bennett