Upon News Of Argentinian Pope, Latin Americans Are Overjoyed

Pope Francis I goes into history as the first Pontiff from the New World.

For Latin America in particular, this is a momentous occasion: It is home to 483 million Catholics or a little more than 40 percent of the global population.

Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires of Italian parents. At one point, he was the archbishop of the Buenos Aires diocese, which The Wall Street Journal reports, has "the largest concentration of Catholics in the world."

Vatican TV reported that churches across Buenos Aires were ringing their bells. The AP reports that on the streets, cars beeped their horns.

The AP adds:

"'It's incredible!' said Martha Ruiz, 60, who was weeping tears of emotion after learning that the cardinal she knew as Jorge Mario Bergoglio will now be Pope Francis.

"She said she had been in many meetings with the cardinal and said, 'He is a man who transmits great serenity.'"

Gabriela Michetti, whom Argentina's El Clarin calls a confidant of Jorge Bergoglio, as the pope was known, was overjoyed.

"I cannot believe it. I cannot believe it," she told the paper. "I can't talk. Let me enjoy this."

The paper reports that in the background, the reporter could hear "screams of euphoria."

This a breaking news story. We'll update as we receive reaction.

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