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Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 19:08

Update 3: New Pope Elected - Pope Francis from Argentina

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 76, has been elected Pope after a two-day conclave ended with white smoke billowing from the small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

Brothers and sisters, good evening

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a Jesuit, will be known as Pope Francis.

His name came as a surprise to many in the large crowd gathered under the rain in St Peter’s Square yesterday evening to wait for the election of a new Pope.

Cardinal Bergoglio’s name was never among those touted to take the place vacated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI last month.

But an ecstatic crowd soon overcame the initial hesitation and warmed to the man, shouting “Viva Papa Francesco” (hail Pope Francis) when he stepped onto the main balcony overlooking the Vatican’s main square shortly after 8pm.

After standing still for a few seconds without acknowledging the crowd, almost looking shell-shocked, Pope Francis greeted the faithful with the words: “Brothers and sisters, good evening.”

Speaking in Italian he then cracked a joke about how the 115 cardinals entrusted to find an archbishop for Rome – the Pope is also considered to be Rome’s archbishop – went to find one “at the other end of the world”.

He then prayed for Benedict and asked the faithful to walk with him in this new journey. “Let us pray for each other... Let this journey be fruitful for evangalisation but before I give you my blessing, I ask you to bless me and pray over me,” he said as he lowered his head and a silent square acceded to his request. Pope Francis then blessed the crowd, bade it farewell and asked people to go and rest.

It had been a long day for pilgrims gathered in Rome to witness the conclave.They came from far flung places like Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines and Malta, but the vast majority were Italians keen on seeing the return of an Italian pope.

Few expected the conclave to be over by yesterday, with speculation rife that a decision was expected by Thursday evening.

But at 4pm people started filling St Peter’s Square despite the incessant rain. As multi-coloured umbrellas bobbed up and down, some sang, others recited the rosary and many made small talk with their friends.

They looked towards the chimney expecting the smoke signal to come at around 5pm but to no avail. It was a sign that the third vote of the day - another two inconclusive elections were held in the morning - was also inconclusive.

And then they waited for the final outcome, which was expected around 7.30pm, when shortly after 7pm the crowd threw up a thunderous cheer as the chimney spewed white smoke.

The Catholic Church had a Pope and people rushed to various vantage points to get a glimpse of their new shepherd.

They waited for anther hour as the Swiss Guards marched onto the basilica’s parvis in preparation for the official ceremony welcoming the Pontiff.

“Who is this guy?” somebody asked when the Pope’s name was read out in Latin. “He is definitely not Italian,” an Italian journalist blurted out.

But this initial reaction soon faded away.

“It doesn’t matter who he is but the choice of Francis as his name indicates he will give preference to the poor and this must be a good thing,” an American, who had travelled to Rome to follow the conclave, said.

In the crowd Vincent Meli, 79, a member of the MUSEUM, said it made no difference to him who the Pope was. “We will always stand by the Pope,” he said, pointing out that these were St Gorg Preca’s words.

Mr Meli waved the Maltese flag in a sea of colours, insisting the conclave was not an event to miss.

A fellow MUSEUM member, Carmel Caruana, 51, said the choice of Pope was the Holy Spirit’s. Joseph Fenech, 65, also a MUSEUM member, instead outlined the problems the Pope will face. “Relativism is a matter of urgency for the new Pope, something Benedict had already talked about. But he also has to reach out to the young.”

As the day came to a close, soaked and tired the pilgrims made their way back to the hotels.

They had just witnessed the first steps of Cardinal Bergoglio’s stewardship of the Church but all they could remember was Pope Francis.

The quiet, unassuming cardinal from Argentina had already touched their hearts.

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The Maltese flag in St Peter's Square this evening. Photo: Jason BorgThe Maltese flag in St Peter's Square this evening. Photo: Jason Borg
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matthew tanti

Mar 14th, 11:36

where is it from?

John Benner

Mar 14th, 10:23

Joseph I agree completely with you but I think we must not play up his background , because critics of the church will expect him to get rid of the wealth and opulence that now surround him in the Vatican and neither you or I know that is not going to happen . I worry the powerful Vatican will change the man before the man will change the Vatican ,be hopeful

Carmel Tabone

Mar 14th, 13:10

TVM urewh live ukoll fl'ahbarijiet tat 8.00pm, bl-isqof Charles jikkummenta. proset.

E Schembri

Mar 14th, 10:48

Communication with smoke is just a tradition.

If your judgment of a new pope is on such silly facts, you are missing the forest for the trees.

And if you expect the church to follow in the footsteps of the liberal factions such as gay marriages and abortions etc, you are also barking up the wrong tree!

Pippo de Marco

Mar 14th, 15:15

@ E Schembri

As a secularist, I don't care about Popes or religion, but I accept that even in this century, many people do.
Surely they have a right to be led by someone who recognises that 21st century issues cannot be resolved with 16th century thinking.

Oh, and if God's will choses Popes, then why have we never had a black one ?

John Bezzina

Mar 13th, 21:58

Could you be so kind as to elaborate.

Am Camilleri

Mar 14th, 05:53

Erm . . . well yes, the Jesuit Superior General will always be a Jesuit, won't he?

Victor Rodenas

Mar 14th, 06:09

The Roman Church has been in the hands of the Jesuits for most of the time.

E Schembri

Mar 14th, 10:51

Whats so scary about this? Isn't it obvious that the Jesuit superior will be a Jesuit?

Charles Grixti

Mar 13th, 21:58

Not so fast. With Nibiru approaching, let us see if he will be the last after all. And if you think that the Vatican does not take these things seriously, you have to know that the most expensive telescope in Arizona belongs to the Catholic Church. It is named "Lucifer". Check it out for yourself if you do not believe me.

On another topic, the Jesuits have both the Black and the White Pope.

Ms.D. Galea

Mar 14th, 00:09

Nope. No one ever discounted the possibility that there were various other popes coming in between the ''Glory of the Olive'' pope and ''Peter the Roman''.
The ''Black pope'' referred to in some prophecies may well refer to Pope Francesco. The head of the Jesuits in Rome is traditionally referred to as the ''Black Pope''.

Mr David Ganado

Mar 13th, 20:48

Hello?? I watched it on TVM, where were you?

James Scerri

Mar 13th, 21:10

Maltese were too distracted by the appointment of the new cabinet.
I agree with you it's a shame they missed it...thanks God we have rai. :-)
Viva il Papa Frangisku I

Joseph Aquilina

Mar 13th, 21:13

Note - to be clear this was not meant as a political comment.

*Joseph Brincat

Mar 13th, 21:20

@ Joseph Aquilina Real big fail from tvm and one tv - not showing this event.
i guess you are still blindfolded , for it was on TVM

E. Xuereb

Mar 13th, 21:49

ONE TV also showed it.

A Spiteri

Mar 13th, 21:52

Mr Ganado, please update yourself before posting your comment!! TVM was showing LIVE the swearing-in of the new Cabinet while all TV stations around the world including Net TV were showing Live from St Peter's square from 6:30 pm while TVM started showing from the Vatican at 8:10pm. What a Shame. If it wasn't for other stations we wouldn't have seen it from the beginning.

C Calafato

Mar 13th, 22:56

TVM was showing cabinet and relative interviews. Such a news like election of pope should take first. But it seems that we have inverse priority here or too much insular ideas.

wendy isaac

Mar 14th, 00:26

Pardon?

D. Muscat

Mar 13th, 21:37

Ohlom. Papa Frangisku konservattiv. Aqra x'tghajjira kienet taghtu l-president tal-Argentina meta oppona bis-sahha iz-zwieg tal-gays

matthew tanti

Mar 14th, 11:38

ifisser li l-president tal-argentina ghandha opinjoni differenti. so what? ara fejn qatt istemghet li ragel jizzewweg ragel!

Andy Farrugia

Mar 13th, 19:34

Absolutely right, Mr Micallef! Habemus Papam! Glory be to God!

M. Formosa

Mar 13th, 19:59

Hear hear Glory be to God!

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