Latin Americans reacted with joy, bursting into tears and cheers yesterday at news that an Argentinian cardinal has become the first pope from the hemisphere.

When the white smoke appeared from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel at shortly after 6pm yesterday, the conventional wisdom suggested that one of the cardinals seen as a front-runner had been elected as the 266th pope.

The Catholic church has chosen a new pope.

Pope John Paul II named 30 new cardinals today, further putting his mark on the group that will name his successor.

Pope John Paul II has celebrated Christmas Eve Mass against the backdrop of a possible war against Iraq – a war to which the Vatican is voicing increasing opposition.