Pope Francis greets followers in St Peter's Square

The new Pope, who will be known as Pope Francis, has greeted a crowd of thousands of devoted followers from the balcony at St Peter’s Square at The Vatican.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the 76-year-old has served as Archbishop of Argentina since 1998.

Conservative in many ways, the new Pope once visited a hospice and kissed the feet of 12 AIDS sufferers.

White smoke poured from the chimney at around 5am this morning, meaning the Catholic Church’s 115 cardinals had elected a new leader.

The successful vote for a Pope to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, who abdicated his position as leader of the world’s Catholics, came on the second day of the Papal conclave.

More to come