By Rafal Rogoza (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Mar 13, 2013 02:45 PM EDT
Tags conclave, vatican city, Pope, cardinals, catholic church

Pope Francis I has been elected as the next pope and successor of St. Peter.

White smoke signaling the end of the conclave began to billow from atop the Sistine Chapel around 2 p.m. EST. Thousands of Catholics began to swarm Vatican City as the symbolic white smoke let the world know that the church's 115 elector cardinals voted in a new pope. For roughly an hour, the estimated crowd of 100,000 waited in front of St. Peter's Basilica as the ringing of bells filled the square.

A loud cheer erupted as 76-year-old Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina finally made his appearance at the basilica's balcony as Pope Francis I. For a brief moment the new pope appeared to be just taking in the moment as he gazed upon the radiant crowd, some of whom were in tears. Before leading the masses that assembled in prayer, Pope Francis I said, "You know the task of the conclave was to give Rome a bishop. My brothers went to the end of the earth to get him."

The election of Pope Francis is ground breaking for the Catholic Church. As the 266 pope in the history of the church, Pope Francis is the first from South America where roughly 40 percent of the world's Catholics live. He is also the first  Jesuit to be elected pope.

3:42 p.m.:

Twitter reactions to the election of Pope Francis as the head of the Catholic Church:

3:34 p.m.: The announcement ceremony has come to a close.


3:31 p.m.:

3:27 p.m.:

3:24 p.m.: "Thank you for your warm acceptance," says the new pope before leading the thousands in attendance in prayer.

3:22 p.m.: Pope Francis I has made his appearance at the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica dressed in all white to the tune of the Vatican City national anthem.

3:16 p.m.:


3:12 p.m.: Cardinal Bergoglio of Argentina is pope.

3:10 p.m.:

3:06 p.m.: The Catholic Radio Service has announced that an estimated 100,000 people have now swarmed Vatican City.

3:04 p.m.:


3:00 p.m.: Movement is now visible behind the curtains of the balcony where the new pope will be unveiled to the public for the very first time.

2:55 p.m.: The Catholic News Service has released a video of the white smoke letting the world know that a decision has been reached. See below.    

2:40 p.m.: The Guardian reported that the decision was made on the fifth ballot, adding that only three of the nine previous conclaves since 1900 have closed sooner. Speculators believe it may mean that one of the early front runners like Angelo Scola or Odilo Scherer was elected. Church officials are yet to make the official announcement of the new leader of the roughly 1.2 billion Catholics around the world.

The Catholic News Service reports that the new pope will greet the public around 3 p.m. EST.

Watch the events live below:

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