7.45pm GMT: The new Pope Francis stood quietly and calmly on the balcony, receiving the cheers of the huge crowd in St Peter’s Square, smiled and said: “Good evening!
He said: :You know that the duty of the conclave was to provide Rome with a bishop. It looks as if my brothers the cardinals went to fetch him from the end of the world!
“I’d like to thank you for your welcome. The people of Rome: thank you! I’d like to pray for Benedict XVI. Let’s pray altogether for him so that the Madonna can look after him.”
Then Pope Francis said the Lord’s Prayer, followed by the Hail Mary. “Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen. And now let’s start working together, walking together, in the Church of Rome.
“This is the path of brotherhood and trust. Let’s pray for each other because of the great brotherhood of the world. I pray the path will be fruitful for this beautiful city.
“Now I will bless you. But I’d like to ask you a favour, for your prayer to bless me as your bishop. Let’s pray silently, your prayer for me.”
7.40pm GMT: The new pope has focussed on social justice. Has spent his life open to the poor and destitute.
7.35pm GMT: Vatican Radio has a biography of Pope Francis:
The man elected to be the 265th Successor of Saint Peter in the conclave, is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite. He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits on 13 December 1969 during his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel.
He was novice master in San Miguel, where he also taught theology. He was Provincial for Argentina (1973-1979) and rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel (1980-1986). After completing his doctoral dissertation in Germany, he served as a confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.
On 20 May 1992 he was appointed titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, receiving episcopal consecration on 27 June. On 3 June 1997 was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998. He is also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite.
7.33pm GMT: Not among the favourites, Cardinal Bergoglio is known for his humility and simple living, using public transport and washing the feet of Aids victims.
7.31pm GMT: New pope begins by asking for prayers for the Pope Emeritus.
7.22pm GMT: Pope Francis greets the crowd in St Peter’s.
7.21pm GMT: Pope Francis is the first non-European pope for 1,000 years.
7.12pm GMT: Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is Pope Francis I, the first Jesuit to be pope.
7.10pm GMT: Cardinal Tauran’s first words will be: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam; Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum [first name of new pope, in Latin] Sanctæ Romanæ Ecclesiæ Cardinalem [his last name], Qui sibi nomen imposuit [his papal name].”
7.04pm GMT: CNS report a crowd of 100,000 in St Peter’s Square.