White smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday afternoon, indicating the cardinals had elected a successor to Pope Francis.

Prevost is an American missionary who spent his career ministering in Peru and leads the Vatican’s powerful office of bishops. He was elected on the second day of the conclave.

The smoke used to signify to the public whether a new pope has been elected is a centuries-old tradition that has been slightly modernized by the Catholic Church during recent conclaves.