British Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the election of a new Pope, saying it is a “momentous day” for Catholics around the world.

Jorge Bergoglio, the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected pontiff on the fifth ballot on Wednesday following the papal conclave in Rome.

He will be known as Pope Francis I.

Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, said the election was a moment of “great joy”.

The 76-year old is the first pontiff to come from Latin America and his election follows the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI last month.

No 10 said it was “a momentous day for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world as His Holiness Pope Francis I is appointed the 266th Bishop of Rome”.

‘Inspired choice’

The Catholic Church in England and Wales issued a statement welcoming the election of Pope Francis.

“On behalf of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, I wish to express my great joy at the news of the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. [Socius Jesu – ie a member of the Jesuits] as the 265th Successor of St Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church,” Archbishop Nichols said.

“As he begins his new Apostolic ministry, as the Bishop of Rome and Shepherd of the universal Church, Pope Francis I may be assured of the prayers and loving support of the Catholic community throughout England and Wales.”

His predecessor Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor said it was an “inspired choice” and the Church was “very blessed”.

Describing Pope Francis I as a “humble and very intelligent” man with an instinctive feel for the poor, Cardinal Murphy O’Connor said his election “may have been a surprise” but it was an “inspired choice”.

“He will bring a new kind of style of to the Catholic Church,” he said. “His own simplicity of life will be a great example to the whole world.”

The election of a Pope from Latin America, he added, reflected the fact that the Catholic Church “was a global Church in a way that it has never been before” and “this man understands that”.

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