Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church, a prelate announced to huge crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square today.

The Cardinal said he took the name Pope Francis.

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is the first non-European pontiff.

Cardinals elected Bergoglio on the second day of a secret conclave to find a successor to Pope Benedict, who resigned unexpectedly last month.

Like our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gleanerjamaica

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/JamaicaGleaner

onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com