On Wednesday, jubilant Argentines celebrated the election of Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires to the papacy.

Few had expected the result, with television channels interrupting their normal programming to broadcast the news. Drivers honked car horns outside the city's central cathedral, with churches quickly filled with people.

Argentine President Christine Fernandez de Kirchner expressed congratulations on her country's behalf.

"It is our wish for you to have, as you take on the leadership and guidance of the church, a fruitful pastoral task regarding such major responsibilities for the sake of justice, equality, fraternity and peace for humanity," she said.

From Buenos Aires, Bergoglio is viewed as a quiet intellectual with an ascetic lifestyle. He was sworn in as Pope Francis, having chosen the name himself. The first Jesuit pope, Bergoglio was elected on the second day of a conclave of cardinals in Rome.

The news was welcomed with joy across Latin America. Even in communist Cuba, church bells were sounded to celebrate the news.

Warm words from chancellor

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was among the first to congratulate the new pope, saying she did so "wholeheartedly."

"Millions of faithful in Germany and in the whole world have waited for this moment," Merkel said. "I am especially happy for the Christians of Latin America, from where for the first time one of their own was called to the head of the Catholic Church."

US President Barack Obama was also among the first to offer his "warm wishes" to Francis I.

"As the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world and, alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day," said Obama.

In a joint statement, EU President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso wished Francis I "a long and blessed pontificate."

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he looked forward to working with the Vatican under the "wise leadership" of the new pope.

rc/mkg (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)