VATICAN CITY
The new leader of Catholic world, Argentina's Francis I started his first day with morning prayer on Thursday at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, after the two-day papal conclave in Vatican City.
Taking the name "Francis I," the New Pope Jorge Bergoglio prayed at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in the morning of his first day.
Elected on the second day of the papal conclave as the traditional sign "white smoke" flew from the Sistine Chapel chimney, Francis I is to hold a ritual with cardinals in the afternoon at the Sistine Chapel.
Francis I, the 266th pope of 1,2 billion Catholic world, is described as the "pope of the firsts" as he is the first non-European, Latin American and Jesuit leader in Vatican City.
To announce the new pope, the message "Habemus Papam Francisium" was sent later on Wednesday evening from the papal Twitter account "pontifex". The personal papal account started with the tweets of the former pope, 85-year-old Benedict, as part of the Vatican's efforts to increase the church presence in social media.
Report by Baris Seckin in Rome
