Church elects first Pope from the Americas

Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected as the new Pope.

The 76-year-old, who will be known as Pope Francis I, appeared on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica to cheers from tens of thousands of the faithful gathered below.

Addressing the crowds, the first non-European pontiff for more than a millenium said: "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.

"I would like to thank you for your embrace, also to ... the bishops, thank you very much. The world should set off on a path of love and fraternity."

He also conducted a prayer for 'pope emeritus' - former pontiff Benedict XVI - who he is thought to have been runner-up to at the last conclave in 2005.

Pope Francis I went on to deliver a blessing to "all men and women of good will", before calling for "brotherhood" in the Church.

White smoke rising from the conclave at the Vatican signalled a decision had been reached on the new head of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.

His appearance came after French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, the protodeacon, announced "Habemus Papam" - "We have a pope" - and gave the name of the new pontiff in Latin.

A roar emanated from those gathered outside the Vatican in St Peter's Square as the white smoke indicated the new pontiff had obtained the required two-thirds majority in the fifth round of voting by 115 cardinals over two days.

The quick election was a surprise given there was no clear front-runner going into the vote - and the upheaval in the church prompted by Pope Benedict XVI's resignation last month.

His departure threw the church into turmoil and exposed deep divisions among cardinals tasked with finding a manager to clean up a Vatican bureaucracy embroiled in recent scandals.

The Pope's Twitter account, whose profile was changed to read 'Sede Vacante' when Benedict stepped down, has now been switched back to 'Pontifex'.

Bergoglio is a jesuit, and ordained Cardinal by Pope John Paul II, and had obtained the highest vote in 2005 when Pope Benedict XVI was elected Pope.

Vaticanologist Frank Zammit told MaltaToday that the election of Bergoglio from Argentina was the healding of a new experience to the Roman Catholic Church.

"His name Francis is indicative of his intention to give the Church a more 'simplistic' and 'humble' approach," Zammit said.