Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I appeares at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Catholic Church
Vatican. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio who has served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998 was elected the 265th successor to St Peter and the 266th Pontiff to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics yesterday. He became Cardinal in 2001.
He took the name of Francis I.
He becomes the first member of the Jesuit religious organisation and the first South American to become Pope.
The 115 Cardinal who were shut off in the Sistine Chapel for the second day yesterday elected Pope Francis I at around 9pm East African time. Bells rang as thousands cheered and waved flags in St Peter’s Square as the smoke signalled the election of the new pontiff. White smoke poured from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, confirming that a new Pope has been chosen.
Appearing on a balcony over the square, he asked the faithful to pray for him. Cheers erupted as he gave a blessing.”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,” said Pope Francis I.
Three previous ballots had failed to elect a pope
For the third time yesterday morning black smoke was emitted by the makeshift chimney at the Sistine chapel after the ballots had proven inconclusive.
Thousands of pilgrims who gathered at the St Peter’s square yesterday braved the cold and drizzle as the chimney fixed to the roof of the Sistine chapel emitted black smoke.
The Cardinals had gathered for two days to elect a successor to the now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who abdicated the chair on February 28, this year on health grounds.
Before the conclave began there was no clear frontrunner to replace Benedict XVI.
The 85-year-old stepped down last month, saying he no longer felt strong enough physically to effectively lead the Church -- which, according to various media outlets, is beset by problems ranging from scandals of sexual abuse of minors to corruption at the Vatican Bank.
Last evening at least 77 of them, or two-thirds, would have had to vote for a single candidate for him to be elected Pope. Before the conclave began, there was no clear frontrunner to replace Benedict.
Crowds with umbrellas massed in the square flying flags from around the world.The Catholic News Agency said people were running through the streets of Rome, hoping to reach St Peter’s Square in time for the appearance of the new Pope.
A troupe of Swiss Guards in silver helmets and full regalia marched to the Basilica in preparation for the announcement, as military bands played for the onlookers.
Several other candidates were considered front runners, including Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, who would have become the first African pope in modern times.
The new church leader takes over an organization many say is in crisis, from damaging allegations of internal squabbling to the cover-up and abetting of sexual abuse, though the latter issue came to light before Benedict’s papacy.
Some sources say the Catholic Church in the U.S. has paid out as much as $3 billion to settle sexual abuse claims, though others estimate a billion less. At least eight U.S. Catholic dioceses declared bankruptcy protection. Benedict said in a 1998 U.S. visit that he was ashamed of the sex abuse scandal, and assured that the church would not allow pedophiles to become priests.
http://thecitizen.co.tz/component/content/article/37-tanzania-top-news-story/29635-white-smoke-emerges-and-heres-the-new-pope.html
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