Photo Gallery: Argentinian Jorge Bergoglio elected Pope Francis
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Buy SPH photosVATICAN CITY (AP) - Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope on Wednesday, becoming the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Francis, associating himself with the humble 13th-century Italian preacher who lived a life of poverty.
Looking stunned, Pope Francis shyly waved to the crowd of tens of thousands of people who gathered in St Peter's Square for the announcement, marvelling that the cardinals needed to look to "the end of the earth" to find a bishop of Rome.
In choosing a 76-year-old pope, the cardinals clearly decided that they didn't need a vigorous, young pope who would reign for decades but rather a seasoned, popular and humble pastor who would draw followers to the faith. The cardinal electors overcame deep divisions to select the 266th pontiff in a remarkably fast, five-ballot conclave.
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Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis (centre) waves from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Roman Catholics celebrate the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the new Pope, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, delivered his first blessing to a huge crowd in St Peter's Square on Wednesday night, asking for the prayers of "all men and women of good will" to help him lead the Catholic Church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A woman holds up a crucifix during a mass at the cathedral of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Buenos Aires' Archbishop and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named pope on Wednesday, making him the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. -- PHOTO: AP
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In this undated photo courtesy of Sergio Rubin, Mario Jose Bergoglio (center), the father of Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio (not in picture), poses for a portrait with his father Juan Bergoglio (left), and his mother Magarita Vasallo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was named pope on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, making him the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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In this undated photo courtesy of Sergio Rubin, family members of Argentine Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio pose for a portrait in an unknown location. Bergoglio's uncle Oscar Adrian Sivori (stands top left), mother Maria Regina Sivori (stands top center), aunt Catalina Ester Sivori (stands top right), uncle Vicente Francisco Sivori (sits bottom left), grandfather Francisco Sivori Sturla (sits second from left), grandmother Maria Gogna de Sivori (sitting second from right), and uncle Luis Juan Sivori, pose for a family portrait in an unknown location. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named pope on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, making him the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
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Roman Catholics celebrate the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the new Pope, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, delivered his first blessing to a huge crowd in St Peter's Square on Wednesday night, asking for the prayers of "all men and women of good will" to help him lead the Catholic Church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Asti Bishop Francesco Ravinale celebrates a Mass for the election of the new Pope Francis, in Asti, Italy, Tuesday, March 13, 2013. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, was elected the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at the Vatican. Bergoglio's family is originally from Asti. -- PHOTO: AP
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Employees of the evening newspaper La Hora, review printed editions with the announcement of the the election of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as new Pope Francis I on March 13, 2013 in Guatemala City. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A young man waves a flag of the Vatican after the announcement of the eleccion of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, as new Pope Francis I, in the outskirts of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Guatemala City on March 13, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Undated file photo of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio posing with the emblem of San Lorenzo's football team, which he supports in Buenos Aires. Bergoglio has been elected Pope on March 13, 2013, to replace the frail Benedict XVI as leader of the world's 1.2 billon Catholics. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
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Faithfuls gather as they wait for the newly elected pope to appear on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, March 13, 2013. Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the troubled Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, taking the name Francis I and becoming the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I waves from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I blesses faithful from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (left) appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica's after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (second left) appears with cardinals at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
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This handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office on March 13, 2013 shows Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I, appearing at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Faithful hold up a sign with the writing in Italian reading "Hail to the Pope" after the election of Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope. -- PHOTO: AP
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Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (centre) appears at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis (centre) waves from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
Roman Catholics celebrate the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the new Pope, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, delivered his first blessing to a huge crowd in St Peter's Square on Wednesday night, asking for the prayers of "all men and women of good will" to help him lead the Catholic Church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman holds up a crucifix during a mass at the cathedral of Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Buenos Aires' Archbishop and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named pope on Wednesday, making him the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. -- PHOTO: AP
In this undated photo courtesy of Sergio Rubin, Mario Jose Bergoglio (center), the father of Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio (not in picture), poses for a portrait with his father Juan Bergoglio (left), and his mother Magarita Vasallo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was named pope on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, making him the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
In this undated photo courtesy of Sergio Rubin, family members of Argentine Pope Jorge Mario Bergoglio pose for a portrait in an unknown location. Bergoglio's uncle Oscar Adrian Sivori (stands top left), mother Maria Regina Sivori (stands top center), aunt Catalina Ester Sivori (stands top right), uncle Vicente Francisco Sivori (sits bottom left), grandfather Francisco Sivori Sturla (sits second from left), grandmother Maria Gogna de Sivori (sitting second from right), and uncle Luis Juan Sivori, pose for a family portrait in an unknown location. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was named pope on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, making him the first pope ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. -- FILE PHOTO: AP
Roman Catholics celebrate the election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as the new Pope, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, delivered his first blessing to a huge crowd in St Peter's Square on Wednesday night, asking for the prayers of "all men and women of good will" to help him lead the Catholic Church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Asti Bishop Francesco Ravinale celebrates a Mass for the election of the new Pope Francis, in Asti, Italy, Tuesday, March 13, 2013. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, was elected the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at the Vatican. Bergoglio's family is originally from Asti. -- PHOTO: AP
Employees of the evening newspaper La Hora, review printed editions with the announcement of the the election of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as new Pope Francis I on March 13, 2013 in Guatemala City. -- PHOTO: AFP
A young man waves a flag of the Vatican after the announcement of the eleccion of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, as new Pope Francis I, in the outskirts of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Guatemala City on March 13, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Undated file photo of Argentina's cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio posing with the emblem of San Lorenzo's football team, which he supports in Buenos Aires. Bergoglio has been elected Pope on March 13, 2013, to replace the frail Benedict XVI as leader of the world's 1.2 billon Catholics. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
Faithfuls gather as they wait for the newly elected pope to appear on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, March 13, 2013. Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected in a surprise choice to be the new leader of the troubled Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday, taking the name Francis I and becoming the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I waves from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I blesses faithful from the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (left) appears on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica's after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
Argentina's cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (second left) appears with cardinals at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
This handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office on March 13, 2013 shows Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I, appearing at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
Faithful hold up a sign with the writing in Italian reading "Hail to the Pope" after the election of Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope. -- PHOTO: AP
Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis I (centre) appears at the window of St Peter's Basilica's balcony after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013 at the Vatican. -- PHOTO: AFP
