Religious Leader
New Pope Elected
At 6.19 pm (7.19pm) white smoke issued from the most watched chimney in the world verified by the chiming bells of St Peters.
Just over 24 hours when the college of cardinals conclave convened; 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide have a new spiritual leader.
At 6.48 pm (7.48) Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI appears on the balcony.
at 7.15 (8.15) pm Jean-Louis Tauran announces the fateful words “Habemus Papam”, or “We have a Pope”
7.20 (8.20)pm Cardinal Bergoglio the 76-year-old Archbishop(he became Cardinal in 2001) of Buenos Aires is named as the new Pope
His name will be Pope Francis I
He is from Argentina of Italian parentage. A Cardinal said The church will be blessed. He is known to be a conservative, spiritual, humble and will look to be a reformer
Not since 741 has a Pope has been chosen outside of Europe
He is 76 and lost a lung as a child
A river of humanity streams around St Peters wanting to be near the new Pope
At 7.35 (8.35)pm The curtains to the balcony part & open, Pope Francis I, clad in white, appears on the balcony of St Peter’s before the mass of humanity below. He speaks, makes a small joke, and asks the crowd to pray for him He then blesses the screaming crowd and worldwide Christians.
Good luck and God bless the new pope, Pope Francis I.