New pope is chosen, champion of the poor

White smoke billowed from Vatican City on Thursday morning, March 14 (Philippine time), signalling the choice of a new pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Going by the papal name Francis, the 76-year-old Bergoglio of Buenos Aires became the 266th pope, the first Latin American to lead the Catholic Church, and the first Jesuit to do so. His chosen name takes after St Francis of Assisi who lived a life of poverty. At the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, he addressed the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, ending a two-day conclave to elect the new pope. The crowd chanted “Habemus Papam!” (We have a Pope!) According to CNN, his chosen name Francis mirrors the values of “poverty, humility, simplicity and rebuilding the Catholic Church.”


Read the full story on Rappler.
Other details are on the BBC.
A related story on the announcement of the new pope is also on Rappler.
A backgrounder on St Francis of Assisi, after whom Pope Francis takes his name, is on CNN.