Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected Pope Francis I

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected the Catholic Church's Pope, taking the name Francis.

Appearing on a balcony over St Peter's Square in Rome, he asked the faithful to pray for him, with cheers erupting as he gave a blessing.

The 76-year-old from Buenos Aires is the first Latin American and the first Jesuit to be pontiff.

Messages of goodwill have poured in from around the world. The Pope's inaugural Mass will be next Tuesday.

Pope Francis replaces Benedict XVI, who resigned last month at the age of 85, saying he was not strong enough to lead the Church.

Francis has telephoned Benedict and is planning to meet him, a Vatican spokesman said.

The new Pope takes the helm at a difficult time for the Catholic Church, facing an array of challenges which include the role of women, interfaith tensions and dwindling congregations in some parts of the world.

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