White smoke! Cardinals elect a new Pope

VATICAN CITY — White smoke billowed over the Vatican Wednesday night, indicating Habemus Papam — we have a Pope.

The 115 cardinal-electors notified the world of their decision with the customary puff of fumata bianca, though the identity of the new Pope was not revealed immediately.

After the election, the new Pope is typically escorted into an ante-room and given time to pray and select his papal name.

Next, the new Pope will make his first public appearance as the leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics when he steps onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The puff of white smoke came after the cardinals had voted five times, starting Tuesday night and continuing with four votes Wednesday.

It was immediately unclear how the winning cardinal reached the 77-vote threshold.