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The Catholic Church announced its new Pope Wednesday. It took those responsible electing a new pontiff just two days to choose a successor Pope Benedict, who stepped last month. The new Pope, the 266th pontiff 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 1,300 years. Thousands pilgrims flocked 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 Buenos Aires wept joy the streets as they heard the news the historic appointment. Argentina's President Cristina Kirchner said she was very proud that the first Latin American Pope was Argentina. She wished Pope Francis great success his new position as leader the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. She said a statement: "We wish him, as he takes the reins the Church, a fruitful pastoral mission, with such tremendous responsibility his shoulders, seeking justice, equality, brotherhood and peace mankind." Francis is seen by many a wise choice to lead the Church a time of crisis because reforms he has made the past. Others view him too conservative.