The Catholic Church announced its new Pope on Wednesday. It took those responsible for electing a new pontiff just two days to choose a successor to Pope Benedict, who stepped down last month. The new Pope, the 266th pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history, is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, from Argentina. He has chosen a name that many say reflects his own humble upbringing – Francis. He becomes the first ever Latin American Pope and the first non-European to head the Church in over 1,300 years. Thousands of pilgrims flocked into the Vatican's St Peter's Square and cheered and applauded as they saw the white smoke that signified a new Pope had been chosen.

Followers in Buenos Aires wept for joy in the streets as they heard the news of the historic appointment. Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner said she was very proud that the first Latin American Pope was from Argentina. She wished Pope Francis great success in his new position as leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. She said in a statement: "We wish him, as he takes the reins of the Church, a fruitful pastoral mission, with such tremendous responsibility on his shoulders, seeking justice, equality, brotherhood and peace among mankind." Francis is seen by many as a wise choice to lead the Church through a time of crisis because of reforms he has made in the past. Others view him as too conservative.