White smoke emerges at the Vatican as a new pope is elected

White smoke has emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, May 8, signaling the election of a new pope.

The new pope will succeed the late Pope Francis.

The identity of the new pontiff is not yet known. Vatican officials are expected to announce his name in Latin from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica shortly.

Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, a 73-year-old Frenchman born in Morocco, is expected to make the announcement — unless he himself is elected pope. Following this, the new Pope will give the Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi from the Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Thursday announcement means the holy body concluded their voting on the second day; both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict were elected on the second day of the Conclave.

The last time a conclave agreed on a pope on the first day, just hours after convening, was in 1503 with the election of Pope Julius II, according to the Associated Press.