The 133 cardinal electors have just elected the Roman Catholic Church' 267th Pope, duly signaled by the white smoke seen coming out of Rome's Sistine Chapel at around 12:20 a.m. on Friday morning, May 9 (PH time).

Thunderous applause welcomed the white smoke that emanated from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, where the 133 cardinal electors cast their votes to choose a new pope, according to a report by GMA Integrated News stringer Andy Peñafuerte III published on GMA News Online. 

The 133 cardinals have finally reached a two-thirds majority to elect the successor of Pope Francis and lead 1.4 billion Catholics around the world.

The white smoke was seen around 6:20 p.m. or 12:20 a.m. (Philippine time).

The people can be heard chanting, "Habemus Papam! Habemus Papam!" as they continued to cheer and clap as some were laughing and waving their flags.

The flags that can be seen from the balcony are from France, Germany, Belgium, Brazil, Italy, Colombia, Spain, Argentina, Mexico, Sweden, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Solomon Islands, USA, Czech Republic, Philippines, Canada, Poland, Malta and Cuba.

The average number of ballots it has taken to be elected over the past 10 conclaves was 7.2. Francis was elected after five in 2013.

The new Supreme Pontiff also has his plate full with armed conflict in different parts of the world, including the Ukraine-Russia war, the recent Pakistan-India skirmish, and the Rohingya issue in Myanmar, among others. —  with Andy Peñafuerte III/Reuters/BAP, GMA Integrated News