Express. Son of a railway worker leads 1.2bn Catholics

The 76-year-old Argentine’s personal style is said to be the antithesis of Vatican splendour.

He tweeted moments after the announcement of his election by the Vatican Conclave: “Immensely happy to be the new Pope, Francis.”

The name Francis evokes key Christian tenets such as simplicity and humility. He apparently told Argentinians not to travel to Rome to celebrate if he was appointed but to give their money to the poor instead.

Francis is a Jesuit, the son of an Italian railway worker. He was born in the Argentine capital and is a trained chemist. He has spent nearly his entire career in Argentina and in 2001 he washed and kissed the feet of Aids patients in a hospice.

He speaks German, Spanish, and Italian and becomes the third non-Italian Pope in a row. Until now he has been living in a small flat, rejecting a bishop’s residence.

Pope Francis has lived for more than 20 years with only one functioning lung. He has been described by commentators as a voice of conscience and a reconciler.

And as a representative of South America’s Catholics, who make up an estimated 42 per cent of the 1.2 billion-strong church, he was widely supported. He became Pope Francis after a surprisingly quick conclave, winning 77 votes, or two-thirds of the 115 cardinals’ votes, on the fifth ballot.