After
five ballots, the conclave of cardinals at the Vatican has chosen a new pope,
and for the first time he's from Latin American.
"For
me it's a big surprise, so emotional," said one follower in the crowd.
Cardinal
Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina is now pope Francis, the first pope from outside Europe
in modern history.
"The
duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome, it seems to me my
brothers cardinals have chose one who is from far away, but here I am,"
Pope Francis announced while standing on the balcony.
Massive
crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, to see history made.
"For
the Latins this is such a moment, look 46% of the church is in Latin America."
"I
am very happy, because he's, he speaks my own language, he speaks Spanish,"
said one onlooker.
The
new spiritual leader of 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide is described as
down-to-earth.
"He's
a very humble person, everybody in Argentina knows that, he doesn't use car, he
use the metro, he doesn't like to call himself monsignor, your excellence, his
eminence."
115
catholic cardinals from around the world formed the secretive conclave electing
the successor to Benedict the 16th.
After
the fifth ballot, white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel,
signifying to the entire world, a new pope has been chosen.
