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.