Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio is elected new pope
Jorge Bergogolio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected pope on Wednesday, the first pontiff from Latin America to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. Learn more about the newly elected Pope Francis.
Jorge Bergogolio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected pope on Wednesday, the first pontiff from Latin America to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
Jorge Bergogolio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected pope on Wednesday, the first pontiff from Latin America to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
After white smoke rose from a chimney above the Sistine Chapel, Pope Francis I emerged onto the Vatican balcony as the new poniff of the Roman Catholic Church.
French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran announces Pope Francis I, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, has been elected by the conclave at the Vatican.
This is the first Pope Francis. The name parallels one of the most venerated figures in the Roman Catholic Church, St. Francis of Assisi.
Newly elected Pope Francis appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, at the Vatican, March 13, 2013.
Pope Francis was elected by cardinals in what was apparently their fifth round of voting on the second day of their conclave.
"As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome," Pope Francis told a cheering crowd of thousands packed into St. Peter's Square.
"It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway. ... Here I am. I would like to thank you for your embrace."
Until last year, Bergoglio was the archbishop of Buenos Aires before stepping down because of his age. He is 76.
Bergoglio is considered a straight-shooter who calls things as he sees them, and a follower of the church's most conservative wing.
