and our team is on the ground, starting with abc's josh elliott. josh? >> reporter: and so begins, diane, tomorrow a world focus will be trained on that chimney atop the sistine chapel, ready to offer all of its smokey history. it's a ritual ratified over centuries. the votes are burned. black smoke means no consensus. white smoke means we've chosen a new pope. and yet so many ways the direction that the church now charts for itself, will be as important as the man chosen to lead it. today we got just a glimpse of what those 115 voting cardinals would see entering the halls of the sistine chapel. koursy of vatican tv. the history of those halls overshadowed by the votes that will take place within them tomorrow. yesterday, the cardinals led masses at the local churches around rome. for one, it would be his final mass before becoming pope.

i want to go at this moment to josh elliott. what does it sound like to you? >> reporter: of course, it was the moment when nobody could tell as you mentioned diane, but then, when it turned white and those bells started peeling, the ripples of u foreya could be heard. i can tell you there are tens and tens of thousands of people that packed the square. it's flowing down the main avenue leading to vatican square. there were gasps almost. i would describe it as a collective shock. again, this is something that many of these people, however faithful, might have wondered if they would ever witness in their lifetime. we've run into so many tourist because of the surprise resignation coincidentally planned trips here who said we're hopeful to see a new pope. as the smoke billows from the sistine chapel chimney, they have gotten their wish. and now, i think a sense of collective euphoria is settling over. you can hear the chants as a new -- >> we do hear the chants and bells. >> 266 popes on the fifth ball ot. we believe on the fifth ballot. we have watched them wai

abc's josh elliott with the tens of thousands of people in st. peter's square today. josh? >> it was a day that began as last night had ended, with a midday plume of black smoke after the first two votes that revealed a still undecided electorate. but at 7:07 local time, as day turned to night over vatican city behind me, the church, after five eagerly awaited votes by those 115 cardinals, had a new supreme leader. the electricity and awe were palpable, as plumes of white smoke rose into the cold, damp, night air. just moments later, there could be no doubt as the bells of st. peter's basilica pealed and sent tens of thousands massed in st. peter's square and beyond, into euphoria. [ crowd chanting ] and as the celebration continued, the vatican and military marching bands provided a soundtrack, a tangible anticipation filled the air. until history's 266th pope was introduced, the 76-year-old jorge bergoglio of argentina, who will now be known as pope francis. a theological conservative, he's known personally as a shy and humble man. that could be seen. he lightly waved to

. >>> to josh elliott for the other top stories developing this morning. >> we want to begin with the very latest now on nelson mandela, the former south african president and human rights champion remains in the hospital this morning. officials in that country are asking the world to pray for the 94-year-old mandela. and abc's bazi kanani is in pretoria right now, and what can you tell us about his condition? >> reporter: good morning, josh. government officials tell us nelson mandela is in good spirits this morning and making good progress. he was last seen cradling his great grandson in this photo his family released last month. he is now 94 years old and concern is growing about his health. in just the last four months he has been hospitalized three times now. south africa's president is asking for prayers for the revered anti-apartheid hero but he acknowledges that frailty comes with age and says that he's very concerned about his progress. josh? >> bazi kanani in south africa, thank you for that. >>> meanwhile, the epa is expected to announce cleaner gasoline standards today whi

may he there be a great brotherhood. >> josh elliott reporting from vatican city. election is certainly not without controversy. in 2010 he strongly opposed legislation in argentina allowing gay marriage. a law that eventually passed. meantime, davi david had the opportunity to talk with two people in the bay area who actually know the new you pope. >> the whole world is about us and we are the center of our own universe and i know the pope. >> reporter: a history professor at santa clara university met the pope during the 1980s during a trip to argentina. he knew that jorge bergoglio was a man of the people with a deep seeded concern for the poor. >> in a poor neighborhood and he had them work with the poor. they took over poor parishes and established a chain of schools serving really what we are wondering people from all parts of that part of latin america. he quietly aah then it tick. >> reporter: for the san jose hispanic community a sense of pride that the new pope comes from the new world rather than europe. >> for me i'm happy because he is hispanic. >> the

josh elliott abc news vatican city. >> the church in san jose keeps the doors open for worship todaynd most parishioners there worked in an extra prayer for the next pope. >> i'm just wishing that god will guide him how to solve the problems that we are facing right now. >> we hoping that the god all the governors they pick the rate person for that position. which is so pr for all of us catholic. >> sentiment echoed by so many catholic. >> history any indication it could be three days before the conclave pick as pochlt as cardinal gather in rome to changes the next pope who will inherit a scandal rocked church a priest in northern california stand accused of child molestation. reverend was arrested on suspicion of child molestation in yuba city. visiting from columbia. also accused of sexual battery. >>> fair storm of protest from veteran groups and lawmakers defense secretary hagel is stopping production of new medal for pilots of unmanned drones. former defense secretary panetta ordered the distinguished war fare medal last month but critic say it shouldn't be ranked above the bron

josh elliott is there, as is diane sawyer for tonight's "world news." >>> in other news this morning, tensions continue to heat up right now on the korean peninsula. south korea and the u.s. began annual military drills today. despite threats from the north to void the armistice that ended the korean war. pyongyang apparently made good on it vow to cut the communication channel with seoul. two calls from a hotline in south korea went unanswered. >>> today marks two years since japan was hit by the devastating earthquake, then tsunami, and then the nuclear disaster. here's a look at the sunrise over one of the hard-hit coastal communities. memorial services are being held for the nearly 19,000 people who were killed. >>> queen elizabeth is taking an historic stand against discrimination. the queen is signing a new charter today that includes her strongest statement ever about women's rights. and it's her first show of support for gay rights. she'll talk about the equal rights legislation that opposes discrimination of any kind. >>> on to afghanistan now where chuck hagel denies that th

josh elliott, abc news, vatican city. >>> and we will hear again from josh later today on "good morning america." and he did mention, of course, boston's cardinal sean o'malley in that piece and we're learning that o'malley is emerging as an unlikely star in rome and also a top contender for pope >> that's right. he's usually seen as in his humble robes of his kapuchin order and earned a anymoremake the cappuccino priest. he's traded in that robe this week for the much more festive cardinal red and even ditched the sandals. >> but also a moment of chaos at the vatican yesterday. just step as way from st. peter's basicila these women took their tops off to protest what they call patriarch ki of the church and protesters set off pink flares chanting no more pope before they were all eventually restrained by officers then carried to a police station. >>> and, of course, you can count on abc news for complete coverage of the conclave with diane sawyer. she's anchoring for us live right there in rome. >>> and one more major development involving the church. the archdiocese of los angeles has

and josh elliott reports from there tonight. ♪ >> reporter: as you know, it was a rainy day here in romebut it couldn't dampen the pageantry of and ritualistic spirit of this first day of conclave. it was a day that started with ceremony and solemn prayer and as ever, anticipation. as the rain fell, the crowds packed st. peter's square, looking skyward for the results of today's first papal votes. then the dense black smoke rose. indicating there was no consensus yet. just hours before, those 115 voting cardinals entered today's final mass, perhaps sneaking in some last conversations before heading to the conclave. some such as boston's cardinal sean o'malley took the time to sit alone in prayer. one by one, the cardinals walked down the aisle before taking individual oaths to obey the rules of the conclave, which demand the utmost secrecy. if they ever break their silence, they risk excommunication. cardinal dolan, now thought to be a considerable contender, gave a final radio dispatch from rome before heading into conclave himself. >> it's a unique, special morning. i never thought i'd

josh elliott will be live from rome for gma all week.ow to the wicked weather stretching across the country's mid section. tonight there are winter warnings in place in a half dozen states, from nebraska to michigan, the morning commute will be a challenge. while along the coasts, a much different story, a breath of spring air. abc's gio benitez has the details. >> reporter: it looks like a scene from the movie "fargo," from blizzard-like conditions in western minnesota, where driving is nearly impossible. to hail in kansas. there's even hail in texas. people are tweeting photos of hail larger than golf balls. in denver, truckers are stranded. >> my advice to people, don't get on the roads. stay home with your families. >> reporter: it's a winter weather blast slamming the nation's heartland, for the third weekend in a row. and adrienne green says it's not over yet. where is the storm going now? >> the storm will continue to lift north and east and will be heading towards the midwest, des moines, green bay, even marquette will be getting

we begin with abc's josh elliott.t. peter's square looking skyward for the result of the first papal vote. and then the dense black smoke rose indicating there was no consensus yet. just hours before, the 115 voting cardinals entered perhaps sneaking in some last-minute conversations before heading to the conclave. some such as boston's cardinal sean o'malley took the time to sit alone in prayer. >> extra omnes. >> reporter: everyone out and with that the doors closed. the work of choosing a pope

josh elliott there, as well, covering it all.t a little bit. >> the cardinals are now at lunch discussing amongst themselves and there will be more voting this afternoon. >>> and we're also going to turn to a shocking case. a man who allegedly tried to poison his girlfriend with visine. the clues she found that sent her straight to the police. >> right and will smith's wife jada with a scorching defense of justin bieber, taylor swift and other young stars. why she says they're being bullied right now. >> she may be right about that. >>> also, a video of these kids dancing. everybody wants to take a look at it but maybe it's not because of the kids. maybe it's because the boss in the picture -- wait, wait, wait. we'll show it to you. >> freeze it. >> we begin with that billionaire facing off with his former girlfriend in court. she's a brazilian soap star more than 50 years younger than him suing for $50 million. he's fighting back with a lawsuit of his own and john muller has the story. >> she is a beauty. he's a billionaire and

. >> let's check with josh elliott at 6:45 for a look at "good morning america" at 7:00 a.m. >> goodning to the bay area. the stunning story of an 87-year-old woman collapsing at a retirement home and a nurse then refused to give her cpr despite pleas from the 9-1-1 operator. we will explain why the nursemaid the decision she did. that is next on "good morning america" right here. >> police agencies are investigating five fatal shootings involving their own officers since thursday when a kidnapping suspect was killed by sheriff deputies in guerneville. on saturday, three people died in police confrontations in san francisco, san jose, and union city. yesterday morning, again, in hayward. this is the aftermath of that incident. the red honda was hit by at least eight bullets after police say the driver tried to ram a patrol car. the 23-year-old was arrested as he tried to runaway. his passenger died at scene. law enforcement experts say that is never the desired outcome. >> from my experience, no officer wants to shoot anyone. when they do they feel bad even if the individual was...a

. >> great to have sam back and john muller in for josh elliott who is, of course, covering the papalave. it's about to begin this morning. there he is on the big screen. >> hi, josh. >> a little bow from josh. >>> what could be a landmark legal case. you may think that a prenup could never be torn up. not anymore. that woman right there had a judge side with her. she said that her husband had promised to tear up the prenup, never did. she has now won an unprecedented case that we'll talk about coming up. >> that is big. >> a lot of questions right there and then also ahead, the new controversial reality show, preachers trying to keep their teen daughters out of trouble. good luck with that. >> yeah, that is causing a lot of controversy. >>> and our dear, dear friend valerie harper has touched all of us really and we'll have a live interview with her. she was just here a couple weeks ago and we all know that the diagnosis that she has learned in the meantime, and she has been so positive and uplifting and we'll have that conversation with her live coming sdmrup talking to her in just

in the immortal of josh elliott, everyone is okay.ohn schriffen is here. >> good words to live by. if you're not familiar, the iditarod dogs are more like marathon runners trained to travel long distances but the last week and a half for may, 9-year-old veteran of the race has been a harrowing journey. the iditarod is one of the most grueling races in the world. to have the best team possible, jamaican musher newton marshall was loaned may, a strong lead dog to guide the sled through the snow and frigid conditions. >> the guy i used to work with said you're going to use my dog and i said, come on. >> reporter: but just days in the up to two-week race fmarshal got into trouble. >> i tugged on the harness and was excited and jumped hard enough and got loose. >> reporter: marshall says he searched for seven hours, but couldn't go very far because he had to take care of his 1 other dogs. >> i was just very nervous and frightened. i lost my dog. it's believe may took off to the next check point in nikolai and back to rohn, through the trea

should be the name of josh elliott's book. it's going to have that intonation, too. you know what i'm saying? >> just like that. >> you will be forced to read the book. thank you, dan. >>> all right, we're going to turn now to a very odd and rather stunning couple in the news this morning. basketball hall of famer dennis rodman, making international headlines, becoming the first american to meet north korean leader kim jong-un. file this under the strangest but the truest. abc's claire shipman has more, now, in washington. good morning to you, claire. >> reporter: good morning, josh. maybe it's an updated take on that cold-war ping-pong diplomacy. the match-up is bizarre. but both personalities are so quirky, it almost makes a strange sort of sense. it's a long way to go for a bromance. >> it's my first time. i think it is -- most these guys' first time. >> very upset. >> reporter: american bad boy nba hall of famer dennis rodman. and worldwide bad boy, dictator, kim jong-un. two guys, sharing a lot of laughs in north korea. b

. >> josh elliott has at look at what is coming up on "good morning america" at 7:00. >> good wednesdayo you and to all you there in the bay area. coming up here, as you know, good news for our money, this morning, the storm surging yesterday beat the all-time high and was a me record this was set back in 2007 but we are asking questions, how real is it? could it be just another bubble? answers are next. right here. on "good morning america" for you. new this morning the mayors of san francisco and san jose and santa clara are boosting the bay area bid to host the super bowl in 2016. the new state of art high-tech stadium in santa clara is scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2014 nfl season. mayors of the three cities will join the 49er's owners to look at the construction and provide an update on the bid to bring the super bowl to the site. >> the bay bridge is now officially the largest l.e.d. light sculpture. crowds gathered in san francisco last night to watch the lights debate. at 9:00, the project was switched on and it consists of 25,000let l.e.d. lights, and l

josh elliott, abc news, vatican city. >> that meeting josh mentioned is taking place today.im. >> one is cardinal timothy dolan from here in new york. after the new pope was officially in place, dolan talked about what happened behind closed doors. >> he immediately said to us, "i choose the name francis in honor of francis of assisi. there is a great moment, that would not surprise you once the future pope reaches 77 votes, right. because everybody knows you are obviously keeping track, once the new pope reaches 77 you know it is over. there is a great moment of applause and expression of love and loyalty. you heard him, he kind of comes across as shy and reserved, his voice is conversational. didn't have a big booming voice. he is a man of confidence and poise, but there's also that splendidly beautiful sincerity. >> interesting insight there. now the mass to officially install francis as pope will take place tuesday. vice president joe biden himself a catholic will travel to the vatican and will represent the u.s. at that mass. >> as you can imagine the people of argentin

sightings, but the pooch always bolted whenever anyone got close, but in the immortal words of josh elliotteveryone is okay. abc's john schriffen is here. >> good words to go by. dan and bianna, good morning to you both. if you're not familiar, the iditarod dogs are not your average pets, they're more like marathon runners trained to travel long distances, but the last week and a half for may, a 9-year-old veteran of the legendary race through alaska, has been a harrowing journey. the iditarod is one of the most grueling races in the world. to have the best team possible, jamaican musher newton marshall was loaned may, a strong lead dog, to guide the sled through the snow and frigid conditions. >> the guy i used to work with said you're going to use my dog and i said, come on. >> reporter: but just days into the up to two-week race marshall got into trouble when his sled tangled with another competitor. >> i tugged on the harness, and she was excited, so she jumped hard enough and just got loose out of my hands. >> reporter: marshall says he searched for seven hours, but couldn't go very fa

sawyer will be anchoring abc news special coverage, the papal conclave choosing the new pope with josh elliottnd the rest of the abc news team. >>> back home, a conclave of a different sort, slightly less holy, the president willing lunching on capitol hill as part of a major charm offensive aimed at finding a resolution to those budget cuts that go by the weird name of sequester. >> but the big question is, will it work? let's go to george stephanopoulos, host of abc's "this week" for some answers. >> good morning. >> so, george, what do you make of the change in strategy on the president's part going from basically not communicating with republican leaders at all to wining and dining them. will that get him the grand bargain he's -- >> we'll see. it'll take some time, motivated by two things, the outside game at least in the short term wasn't working for the president. trying to raise all these alarms about the sequester but it didn't seem to be taking hold because people haven't felt it yet and, number two, now that the sequester actually has kicked in, there's no other option but to try to

josh elliott, abc news, vatican city. >> now, as we said, the conclave is carried out in total secrecy oath yesterday to uphold that tradition. even the head of the swiss guards and the vatican police were sworn not to reveal what goes on inside that chapel. >> here is what we do know about how the ancient process works. the voting may begin right away. up to four times a day until two-thirds of the cardinals agree on a name. they write their choices on paper ballots which are eventually burned. black smoke from the burned ballot papers means no pope. white smoke means the 266th pope has been chosen. >> fascinating details here. this tradition dates back to 1268. back then it took them nearly three years, three years to pick a pope at that time. so they do not want any repeat of that one. that is worse than florida. so they're like, no, we've got to change this tradition. >> no hanging chads. >> so, they changed the things to make things go a bit faster. obviously a much better process since 1268. >> we have over the last ten years, i believe -- there was one -- or the last 110 years,

channelling my inner josh elliott. the unfortunate spot where his ball landed, up there in the tree. he made the backhanded shot right onto the fairway. getting to the ground was the hard part. the play was later interrupted for the thunderstorm, like you mentioned. >> can we talk about the second career this guy has in tree-climbing if it doesn't work out. >> and tiger woods in the lead. he could be number one. great to have you here. >>> now to the latest on amanda knox. an italian appeals court is in session trying to decide if she'll face another trial. over the 2007 murder of her roommate. john muller has the latest. good morning, john. >> reporter: today is the day. the end of a six-year legal nightmare or back to step one. a retrial. all eyes on the italian supreme court. this morning, inside the italian supreme court, prosecutors are making the case that amanda knox and raffaele sollecito should never have been acquitted of meredith kercher and are ordered a retrial. after they were released 18 months ago, pros

josh elliott is there, too. i love the tweet from greg burke, life is like baseball and tomorrow is opening day at vatican city. >> and so the bunting has been adorned. there's a palpable buzz here in the air this morning. the 115 cardinals attended a final preconclave meeting. it's a process that will begin with mass just behind me there in st. peter's and end when that iconic white smoke rises from the chimney of the sistine chapel. this morning in vatican city, the curtains being hung. a literal shrouding of the process to elect a new pope. fewer than 24 hours from now, the college of cardinals, made up of 115 cardinal electors, will move into the conclave house the santa marta in vatican city where they will be isolated from the rest of the world. >> that decision is a source of great anxiety, a sense of responsibility on your shoulders. the possibility that you might be elected makes it even worse. i think it's very natural for them to be a little bit terrified. >> reporter: at 10:00 a.m., they'll attend ma

. >>> to josh elliott and the morning's other stories. tense situation in north korea. every day a new development. >> a show of force now from the u.s. military in response one day after north korea warned that war is possible at any moment. the u.s. has taken action proving it is taking these new threats from kim jong-un's government seriously and jim avila has been watching it all night long. good morning to you, jim. >> reporter: good morning, josh. the united states using its military to send a stern message the united states sent two b-2 stealth bombers in a nonstop flight 6500 miles round trip over the pacific to drop dummy ammunitions over south korean training field. the military says it was to demonstrate the commitment of the united states to defend the republic of korea. this after rising tensions after north korea and south korea, the closing of the border and yesterday warning that war could be imminent between south korea and an attack on the united states. the u.s. sending a stern message. perhaps hopefully reducing that tension, this picture which has g

. >> hey, welcome, josh elliott. >> you know what, we all learned you're so good at what you do. >> itst. >> great. >> you know what i miss, steve carell. i got to see it over there, terrific. >> of course, he joined us earlier this week. there he was. >> of course, interesting experience, the meteorologist "anchorman" currently shooting but he also stopped by my alma mater, "sportscenter" on thursday and he had some breaking news about espn's nfl crack reporter adam schefter. take a look. >> i just learned that adam schefter is a liar and he's been making all this stuff up about football the entire time. my sources around the league say that adam just makes all this stuff up and then he goes and tweets it out and the players and teams just go along with whatever adam tells them to do. can you believe that? -- story and i'm going to tweet about it and put it on facebook and instagram and myspace and google. tell the entire world. >> really, steve? really. >> steve, take us out with some top plays, won't you? >> bingo. >> it's going to be friday. >> that ham is tasty. >> somebody's in m

let's go to josh elliott with the morning's other top stories. more threats from north korea. >> an ominous one. we're going to begin there. a new warning from north korea overnight. days after releasing the propaganda video, state-run media is reporting that the forces have been ordered to combat-ready status to prepare for targets of u.s. facilities in hawaii and the u.s. mainland. pyongyang stepped up its threats since the u.s. and south korea began joint military drills. >>> overnight a terror attack in afghanistan coinciding with john kerry's visit there. taliban suicide bombers killed at least five police officers in the eastern part of the country. while back in the capital kerry's sit-down with hamid karzai appears to have smoothed tensions which were strained recently when karzai implied that the u.s. was, in fact, colluding with the taliban. >>> and shocking violence inside a target store in pittsburgh actually ended with a heroic move that saved a girl's life. a man fighting with a group of men outside entered the store and randomly st

hictio couple of yars >> well received lanigh ri id, received lanigh >>> we're going to turn now to josh elliotth developing stories. >wegin rea fear there in taiwan, robin. two stories breaking overnight. check out this video coming in from a clam ow ft the childremana escape okay butf o were injured in the quake. at least one person was killed as workers tried to evacuate office buildings, you see it there. and run for co kew.e other breaking story peninsula s is quote, at any moment, end quote. the north today cut off a key military hot line with south korea. its final of in fact, kim jung u.n.'s government has been ramping up threats in recent days as the u.s. and south con >>> and on wall street this morning, stocks are down slightly. bianna golodryga here to explain why. >> good morning to you, josh. the dow coming off its best day in three weeks rising 111 points tuesday and two, big headlines explain the new record. first home prices, they're skyrocketing, rising at the fastest pace in more than six years since the housing bubble popped. that's great for selling a home. but the other hea

it's josh elliott and sam champion's turn to meet their look-alikes.k-alike looks like. >> a little unnerving. you want to meet your look-alike and find out, the look-alike looks better than you. or the look-alike doesn't look so hot. that's what i look like? >> don't think that would happen. we are so used to seeing -- not saying look-alikes aren't as good looking as real "gma anchors. i'm so used to seeing them. pd ok as f looks like them saying. i want to see your >> i do too. i want to see yours. have him anchor one day. >>> coming up, the big advances and big disappointments in the ncaa, sweet 16 and the status of everyone's brackets. >> they're not really little kids, not teenagers either. who is helping tween girls and their parents with some very awkward years. we'll tell you. you are watching "world news now." ♪ >> announcer: "world news now" weather brought to you by consumer cellular. kids make stains i use tide boost to super charge our detergent. boom. clothes look amazing, and daddy's a hero. daddy, can we play ponies? right after we do f