Pope Francis has made history by becoming the first Latin American to be elected pontiff.
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, from Argentina, was elected the 266th pope and leader of the world’s 1.2billion Roman Catholics.
The news was revealed to the world and tens of thousands of people in St Peter’s Square when white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
White Pope Faithful wait for the smoke announcing t The Papal Conclave Day Two The Papal Conclave Day Two Faithful shelter from rain while waiting for smoke to rise from a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel during the second day of voting for the election of a new pope at the Vatican The Papal Conclave Day Two VATICAN_POPE_EM107-2013MAR13_133358_421.jpg sea of umbrellas The Papal Conclave Day Two A general view shows St Peter's square w A bell of St Peter's basilica rings as w The Conclave Of Cardinals Have Elected A New Pope To Lead The World's Catholics White smoke Faithful react as white smoke rises from Swiss guards arrive while the balcony wh Assistants prepare the balcony prior the Faithful react as white smoke rises from The Conclave Of Cardinals Have Elected A New Pope To Lead The World's Catholics The Conclave Of Cardinals Have Elected A New Pope To Lead The World's Catholics The Conclave Of Cardinals Have Elected A New Pope To Lead The World's CatholicsBefore the pontiff greeted the cheering crowd, French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran announced ‘Habemus Papam’ – We have a pope – in Latin.
Pope Francis, from Buenos Aires, then emerged on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica and told the crowd ‘buona sera’ – good evening in Italian.
The 76-year-old paid tribute to his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI – who became the first pontiff in 600 years to resign.
‘First and foremost I would like to pray for our emeritus Pope Benedict XVI that Christ and the Madonna watch over him,’ he said.
He then claimed ‘the world should set off on a path of love and fraternity’, adding: ‘I would like to thank you for your welcome, the community of Rome, its brotherhood, I thank you.’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Justin Welby, said: ‘Pope Francis is well known as a compassionate pastor of real stature.’
And UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon also offered his congratulations. ‘We share many common goals, from the promotion of peace, social justice and human rights, to the eradication of poverty and hunger,’ he said.
Pope Francis I: Humble leader who gets bus to work
He gets the bus to work, cooks his own meals and regularly visits the slums of Buenos Aires.
Pope Francis – the first ever pontiff from the Americas – thinks pastoral work, rather than doctrinal battles, is the essential business of the church.
Known for his humility, the Jesuit cleric – whose order takes a vow of poverty – once accused church leaders of hypocrisy by saying they had forgotten Jesus Christ bathed lepers and ate with prostitutes.
Supporters say he will bring a new approach to the church as he is not viewed as a Vatican ‘insider’. However, he is opposed to same-sex marriage. In 2010, he called it an ‘attempt to destroy God’s plan’.
Appointed a cardinal in 2001, he worked to repair the reputation of a church that lost many followers by failing to challenge Argentina’s murderous 1976-83 dictatorship.
