After a day of deliberation, Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected to be pope of the Catholic church Wednesday. He will be known as "Francis I."

BBC News reported white smoke was seen from the Sistene Chapel chimney late Wednesday night at the Vatican, which signals a pope has been elected.

Shortly after, Bergoglio was announced as the winner, sending crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square into jubilation, according to the BBC.

The previous pope, Benedict XVI, abdicated from the position last week, saying he lacked strength to lead.

The new Pope Francis I, formerly the archbishop of Buenos Aires, spoke with the crowd from a Vatican balcony shortly after it was announced he was chosen.

"As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am," he said, according to CNN.