Cardinals elect Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope

They jammed St. Peter's Square, enduring rain, and an hours-long wait until finally….from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, unmistakable puffs of white smoke - the age-old sign that a new pope had been chosen caused the crowd to erupt in cheers . And then, the moment vatican watchers worldwide had been waiting for. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a 76-year-old Argentinean, was elected in a surprise choice as the new pope. Mario Bergoglio, the first Latin American pope will lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics as Pope Francis. The new Pontiff is known as a humble man who leads an austere and sober life without ostentation, traveling by public transport and living in a small apartment outside Buenos Aires.Francis becomes the 266th pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history at a time of great crisis and difficulty.