JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO OF ARGENTINA ELECTED AS 266TH POPE

23:26 13.03.2013

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was elected as Supreme
Pontiff of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, the Vatican announced
Thursday.

White smoke emerged at 2:05 a.m. PHL time from the chimney of the
Sistine Chapel of the Vatican Apostolic Palace, where 115 cardinals
gathered to elect a new pope Tuesday.

Pope (NAME) succeeds Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned on February 28
amid daunting problems facing the Church at one of the most difficult
periods in its history.

>From the Hall of Blessings of the Vatican Basilica, the Cardinal
proto-deacon made the solemn announcement about the election of the
new pope, who became the 265th successor of Saint Peter.