First look at new Pope Francis: Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina greets adoring crowds

The curtains open and Pope Francis I, formerly Archbishop Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, appears on the balcony of St Peter's clad in white.

Pope Francis delivered his first blessing to a huge crowd in St Peter's Square on Wednesday night, asking for the prayers of "all men and women of good will" to help him lead the Catholic Church.

Francis, speaking Italian with a slight Latin American accent, joked with the crowd before delivering his blessing, saying: "As you know the duty of the conclave is to give Rome a bishop. It seems that my brother cardinals went almost to the end of the world."

The breakthrough came after the second vote on the second day of the gathering of the cardinals in Rome, and white plumes of smoke were issued from the Sistine Chapel's chimney in front of 100,000 cheering faithful, who were patiently waiting under beating rain.


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