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| Pope Francis in his first public appearance. |
The new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church was elected today. He is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina and he has taken the name of Pope Francis. He stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica for the first time to address the roaring crowd in St. Peter's Square.
Bergoglio, aged 76, is a Jesuit from Buenos Aires and is the first pope from South America. Pope Francis humbly and calmly asked for the people's prayers.
"Let's pray always for each other. Let's pray for the whole world. May
there be a great brotherhood," the new pope said in Italian. He wished that the "voyage with the church that we begin today" be "successful in spreading the gospel."
"Let us pray silently in this prayer for me," he said before bowing his head for a moment of silent prayer with a silent crowd. Pope Francis received a bishop's blessing and then made the sign of the cross to bless the people.
"Brothers and sisters, I leave you. Thank you so much for the warm
welcome. Pray for me and we'll see each other soon. Tomorrow I want to
go pray to the Madonna. And I want to wish to all of Rome goodnight and
good rest," Pope Francis said with a laugh and a wave before leaving
the balcony among cheers and bells ringing.
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