Argentina's Bergoglio elected Pope
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E-mail China.org.cn, March 14, 2013
Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected the new pope on Wednesday during the second-day secret ballots in cardinals' conclave held in Vatican City, becoming the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years.
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Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, in Vatican City on March 13, 2013. [Photo: Agencies] |
White smoke out of the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel and the sound of church bells announced at 7:06 p.m. local time (1806 GMT) that the 76-year-old Bergoglio was the new pope in front of thousands of believers and international journalists who were waiting for the news in St Peter square.
The name he chose as the new pope was Francis I. He is the first Jesuit to become pope.
A member of the Jesuits, and ordained in 1936, after four years as priest Bergoglio became head of all the Jesuits in Argentina.
After studying in Germany, he became bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and archbishop in 1998. A strong supporter of helping the poor, Bergoglio was made cardinal in 2001.
The secret conclave began on Tuesday night with a first ballot and four ballots were held on Wednesday. Francis obtained the required two thirds majority in the fifth ballot.
The pope emeritus renounced office at the end of last month after surprising the world by announcing that he no longer had the mental and physical strengths to continue papacy.
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