Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina Elected Pope

Pope Francis
Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, conducts a mass in honor of Pope John Paul II at the Buenos Aires cathedral in 2005 (Reuters/Enrique Marcarian )

Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope on Wednesday to lead the Roman Catholic Church, a prelate announced to huge crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.

He took the name Pope Francis, the cardinal said.

Cardinals elected Bergoglio on just the second day of a secret conclave to find a successor to Pope Benedict, who abdicated unexpectedly last month.


Reporting by Crispian Balmer

© 2013 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.


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