PILGRIMS and visitors who huddled together in the rainswept St Peter's Square got their reward last night.As time passed, hopes began to fade that we would have a Pope on day two of the Papal Conclave. I was luckier than most, as I could move with ease between the heated press centre and the square.
But the true believers were unmovable: they came to the square as they had the evening before to see the black smoke.
However, at a few minutes past seven, it was obvious that the smoke was white. All around me, chants began to go up of "Viva il Papa" – long live the Pope. For the Catholic faithful in St Peter's Square, the name of the Pope was a secondary consideration: the church had a new chief shepherd and they were delighted.
I was struck by the name Pope Francis – a nod to St Francis, a champion of the poor and the marginalised.
But how could it be any different, with a Jesuit steeped in Latin America?
Pope Francis set a different style immediately when he appeared on the central balcony.
Gone was the red Papal Mozetta or cape that has marked the Papacy. Instead, Pope Francis signalled a subtle change by appearing in the simple white cassock.
It struck me that there were obvious parallels with John Paul II in 1978: Pope Francis said the cardinals had gone "practically to the ends of the world" to find a Pope. John Paul had spoken of himself as a man from a far distant country.
And the parallels mightn't end there. Just as John Paul led to a new global emphasis in the church, Pope Francis will bring a distinctive Latin-American feel to the talk of leading the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
Francis inherits a skeleton schedule, but one of the items on it is a visit to Brazil for the celebration of World Youth Day from July 23-28.
The sight of a Latin-American Pope returning to that vibrant continent will be something to behold.
And what about the pilgrims in Rome?
Tired, wet, cold? Yes.
Jubilant, hopeful and itching for renewal? Absolutely.