Barely 12 hours after Pope Francis’s surprise election, thousands in Rome were yesterday talking about the humility of a man who clearly plans to usher in a new age of simplicity in the Catholic Church.

In St Peter’s Square, some pored over newspaper reports giving detailed CVs of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, while others talked about him as if he was the next priest round the block.

In his first official engagement yesterday morning, the Argentinian cardinal visited Rome’s second largest basilica dedicated to the Holy Mother and then celebrated Mass with the cardinals. On Wednesday night, he became the first Pope born outside Europe in 1,300 years, taking many by surprise.

Cardinal Prospero Grech was in his room listening to music when somebody phoned from Malta informing him that the Church had a new Pope.

Living at the Augustinian priory just a stone’s throw away from St Peter’s Square, the news took him by surprise. He had not heard the bells peel with joy.

“I had the music on but like everybody else I was not expecting a decision on Wednesday because it looked like we were heading for a long conclave,” Mgr Grech told The Times yesterday.

The surprise he talked about was a feeling shared by many people in the crowd that evening when the small chimney above the Sistine Chapel spewed white smoke, a sign that the cardinals had reached their decision.

Cardinal Bergoglio was not touted as a favourite by the media in the days preceding the conclave and his name never surfaced. It left journalists in the square rummaging through their notes, trying to figure out who the pontiff was.

But although Cardinal Bergoglio’s name may not have struck an immediate chord with a crowd made up mostly of Italians and Europeans, Mgr Grech noted that the archbishop of Buenos Aires had been a prime contestant to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger eight years ago. His name must have faded away but not his pastoral work.

“The short conclave was a sign that cardinals found convergence and that is a good thing like the choice of the Pope’s new name,” Mgr Grech said.

Like St Francis of Assisi he will also be endearing to the poor, he added. “Pope Francis will reflect simplicity.”

And simplicity was evident in Pope Francis’s humble start, according to Mgr John Kennedy, an official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He had been invited to share his thoughts on Vatican radio on Wednesday, believing he would clock off at around 7pm when cardinals will signal their disagreement with black smoke.

“When contrary to our expectations the white smoke appeared, it was obvious that we were going to be at the radio for longer,” Mgr Kennedy said yesterday, recalling the enthusiasm that filled the thousands of faithful gathered at St Peter’s Square.

He described the Pope’s first gestures, including the pure white cassock, as a sign of humility. The Pope was almost like a parish priest leading his community, Mgr Kennedy added.

“The way he greeted the crowd by a simple ‘brothers and sisters, good evening’ was amazing. He even led the congregation in prayer as an offering for his predecessor Benedict. It is wonderful because a Pope’s first mission is to lead his flock into prayer.

“And then he thanked everyone and asked them to go back home and rest. It was almost like a parish priest tending to his congregation.”

However, Mgr Kennedy noted that, even though Cardinal Bergoglio was little known to the people, he was not so anonymous in the Roman Curia.

Pope Francis had been part of various congregations, worked in Rome and obtained his doctorate in Germany, Mgr Kennedy said.

“He is well-loved in Argentina for his pastoral work, especially with the poor,” Mgr Kennedy added.

For Maltese journalist and lawyer Joe Mifsud, who was present for the conclave in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis was a welcome surprise.

Dr Mifsud said it was a gesture of humility when the Pope lowered his head and the silent square prayed for him.

“I believe he will be close to the poor and make some important changes even in the Roman Curia,” Dr Mifsud said, noting that Pope Francis had already won over people’s affection.

In the Vatican’s main square, preparations were under way for the enthronement of the Pope during an open-air Mass to be held on Tuesday, the feast of St Joseph.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com