Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina elected New Pope

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina elected New Pope

Mangaloretoday/NDTV

Vatican City, March 13, 2013: Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has been elected pope, the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis.

He is the first Pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first Latin American, the first Jesuit and the first to choose the name Francis as his Papal moniker.

 

 

 

 

After announcing "Habemus Papum" - "We have a pope!" - a cardinal standing on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday revealed the identity of the new pontiff, using his Latin name. Bergoglio had reportedly finished second in the 2005 conclave that produced Benedict XVI - who last month became the first pope to resign in 600 years.

 

Argentinian Jorge Bergoglio has been elected the new pope - the first non-European chosen in a thousand years.

The 76-year-old cardinal, from Buenos Aires, who has chosen to be known as Pope Francis I, was introduced to crowds at the Vatican tonight.

He finished second in the 2005 conclave that elected Benedict XVI - who last month became the first pope to resign in 600 years.

The choice was marked by symbolic white smoke being released from a chimney at the Vatican at just after 6pm UK time.

The 266th pope changed into his papal white cassock, then one-by-one the cardinals approached him to swear their obedience.

He stopped to pray in the Pauline Chapel for a few minutes before emerging at around 7.15pm on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square.

There, French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran introduced him to the world - and thousands of cheering Catholics in the square - in Latin.

Bergoglio has spent nearly his entire career at home in Argentina, overseeing churches and priests.

 

Holy smoke: The decision was marked with the traditional white plumes


115 cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel this week to elect Pope Benedict XVI’s successor in an ancient ritual that harks back 2,000 years.

A few drops of a special chemical was added to the fire to turn the smoke to white, signalling “Habemus Papam” – we have a new pope.

The breakthrough came after the second vote on the second day of the gathering of the cardinals in Rome.

The conclave to choose the new pope was prompted by the dramatic resignation of pope Benedict XVI last month.          

In the absence of a new pontiff earlier today, a seagull stole the show at the papal conclave.

Smoke-watching became bird watching in St. Peter’s Square after a gull spent several minutes perched atop the chimney.

 

Holy Sea-gull: Bird takes the best seat in the square

 

 

Thousands of people sheltering from heavy rain under a sea of umbrellas had occupied the square all day to await the decision and the crowd swelled as soon as the white smoke emerged.

They cheered wildly and raced towards the basilica as the smoke billowed from a narrow makeshift chimney and St Peter’s bells rang.

The excited crowd cheered even more loudly when Francis appeared, the first pontiff to take that name. "Viva il Papa (pope)," they chanted.