TODAY

TODAY   |  March 13, 2013

Behind the scenes of TODAY’s Vatican smoke watch

NBC’s Keir Simmons takes a look at the nerve center of TODAY in Vatican City as Catholics around the world wait with bated breath to see the white smoke signaling a new pope has been selected.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>> more from the vatican as the cardinals carry out the secretive process of electing the new pope. keir simmons joins us again. good morning.

>> reporter: good morning. there are still crowds in st . peter's square despite the black smoke this morning. from here you can see the top of the sistine chapel and the famous chimney. from above the tuscan kol nads, our studio gives you a bird's eye view. here is a look at what's going on behind the scenes . from up here you get a terrific view of the basilica in st . peter's square in the sistine chapel . we even have one camera fixed on that famous chimney watching for the black smoke or the white smoke when a new pope is chosen. we have a team of nbc news operators and engineerses bringing you all the latest, cap curing every moment of history as the 266th pope walks out to face the world. down stairs is the heart of the operation. come and have a look. below the studio is the newsroom where modern technology is allowing you at home to witness an election based in,000 years of history. a team is monitoring for news about the conclave looking through local newspapers for inside information and, these days, watching the internet and social media . at the back here the live feeds. the picture of st . peter's square where people gathered to hear the words "habemus papum" or we have a pope and the chimney above the sistine chapel . back in the square the vatican erected giant tv screens so people can see the chimney when the pope is selected. the atmosphere will be electric and we'll bring it to you as it happens.

>> turn around, keir. keep an eye on that chimney. we'll bring you the news as soon as we get it.

>> a little bit of breather