Prevost, who was promoted by Francis and has a knack for management and a zeal for missionary work, was a stronger candidate then many outside the Vatican knew.

White smoke from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday signaled that the cardinals have selected the next leader of the Catholic Church.

The longest conclave since the 20th century began took 14 rounds of balloting across five days, ending with the election of Pius XI in 1922. The shortest was the conclave that elected Pius XII in 1939, which took three ballots in two days.