Conclave selects cardinal known for humility

VATICAN CITY -- The selection Wednesday of an Argentine cardinal known for humility to lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics came in a remarkably fast, five-ballot conclave.

The College of Cardinals overcame deep divisions centering around the church's future to select Jorge Bergoglio, a 76-year-old clergyman from Buenos Aires who took the name of Francis. He is the 266th pontiff.

"You know that the responsibility of the conclave was to give a bishop to Rome," said the newly elected pope, as he greeted thousands of screaming fans from the papal balcony, "but it seems like my brothers, the cardinals, went almost to the end of the world to find him."

In 2005, then-Cardinal Bergoglio had reportedly received the second-most votes after Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, who was elected pope but stepped down last month. And this time Bergoglio was not even considered a front-runner among analysts.

The news surprised a sea of faithful in St. Peter's Square who had awaited for the entire afternoon under a beating rain -- as well as seasoned watchers of the Vatican.

Analysts had predicted either a short conclave with the victory of Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola -- a powerful Vatican insider -- or a long election with internal battles between cardinals of the conservative Roman Curia and reformists from around the world.

No one was ready to bet on a pope from the developing world.

"That decision tells us that neither journalists or pressure groups get to decide," said Vatican expert Giovanna Chirri, the veteran Vatican reporter who broke the news that Benedict XVI would resign. "It's something that is done through prayer and inside the conclave."

Pope Francis named himself after a 13th-century mystic who lived as a mendicant, preaching poverty and simplicity -- St. Francis of Assisi, who is also Italy's patron saint.

"This time the church took the message of the Gospel to the letter," Chirri said. "It's a choice that also embraces the issues of poverty, especially because this pope is from Latin America."

Pope Francis' first official act from the balcony was to ask to be blessed by his flock.

"Let's do this prayer from you to me," he said as an estimated 50,000 worshippers bowed and prayed in silence. His old cardinal cross hung from his neck -- unlike many cardinals, his was not made of gold.

"Usually Jesuits try to resist being bishops or cardinals," said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See press office. "I think it's a strong call rather than a seeking of power or authority."

As cardinal, Bergoglio had worked to repair the reputation of the Church in Argentina, which lost the trust of many followers as it didn't openly challenge a military regime that took over Argentina from 1976 to 1983. Under Bergoglio's leadership, the Catholic Church in Argentina apologized in October 2012 for the bishops' failure to protect their flock.

A Jesuit and rigorously intellectual man, Bergoglio did not choose a name from the Jesuit tradition, such as Ignatius -- the order's founder. Experts say that decision, made within the first hour of being elected, is per se the first message from the new pope.

"If one chooses the name Francis, we know that the pope is promising to bring the ideals of St. Francis into his papacy," said Ambrogio Piazzoni, vice-prefect of the Apostolic Library and a historian specializing in papal elections.

Jesuits have never considered themselves above the Church, and make an oath to serve the Church and the pope. "I think it's wonderful that Cardinal Bergoglio didn't pick the name of the Ignatius but that of Francis," Lombardi said. "It is highly significant."

When Benedict XVI stepped down last month he left the Vatican in turmoil, with scandals of financial corruption and mismanagement inside the Roman Curia.

Benedict's butler was convicted of theft by a Vatican court last year for leaking confidential letters alleging bribery, money laundering and corruption within the Vatican.

In Italy, believers cheered for a foreign pope and an outsider to clean house.

"The conclave went for a man who's very deeply holy, not in an ethereal, eccentric way, but being simple and humble," Christopher Ruddy, professor of history and theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington, said in a telephone interview to Bloomberg News. "This will be a shake-up."

With Zachary R. Dowdy