"Habemus papum" – These were the words, meaning "we have a pope", announced by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran at the Vatican on Wednesday night as Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
"Habemus papum" – These were the words, meaning "we have a pope", announced by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran at the Vatican on Wednesday night as Argentinian Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
White smoke billowed out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at around 7pm Italian time on Wednesday
night, accompanied by the ringing of bells in St Peter’s Square, indicating that a new Pontiff had
been elected.
Bergoglio was elected after just five rounds of voting, a day after the conclave began the voting
process.
The 76-year-old becomes the first Latin American pope to be elected, and the first Non-European
pope in almost 1300 years to lead the Catholic Church.
Bergoglio, who chose the name Francis and will now be addressed as Pope Francis I, is the first Jesuit
(a male religious order of the Catholic Church) pope in the church’s 2000-year history.
The Vatican announced that Bergoglio’s inaugural mass will take place on 19 March.
Bergoglio was received with loud cheers and thunderous applause by the 50000-strong crowd that
filled St Peter’s Square to catch a glimpse of new Pontiff. The humble leader asked the waiting crowd
to bless him before he blessed them, after which he urged the masses to pray for him.
The Argentinian’s choice of the name Francis indicates his willingness to model St Francis of Assisi’s
life of simplicity and poverty. Bergoglio is known for his concern of the poor and for his humility,
leading a simple life and using public transport from his small apartment in Buenos Aires.
After his appearance on the balcony on Wednesday night, the new pope shunned the papal
limousine, choosing rather to travel by shuttle with the other cardinals back to the Vatican residence
for an evening meal.
Initial reactions of joy and praise for the new pope emanated around media circles the world over,
with particular joy within Latin America. Many believe that the decision to appoint Bergoglio shows
that the Catholic Church is more open and focused on the entire church, and not just centred around
Europe.
