New pope, let’s party: Argentina celebrates as Pope Francis is elected

Argentinians flooded the streets of Buenos Aires as it was announced their fellow countryman had been elected Pope for the first time.

Cramming into specially organised masses in the Catholic churches of the capital, believers cried, prayed and chanted their support for Pope Francis - formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires.

In scenes that would more commonly be attributed to the aftermath of a victorious football match, Argentinians young and old congregated outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Plaza de Mayo, the main Catholic church in the capital, seen in the video above.

Waving the blue and white flags, jumping and blowing whistles, the crowd took on a party atmosphere as they gathered outside the stately building in celebration.

Astonished at the surprise announcement of the cardinal, elated worshipers chanted: "Argentina, Argentina"..

Justin Goldner, who shot these videos, tweeted: "New pope...Let's party!"

Thousands of people joined the celebration in the square and later filed into the cathedral for a prayer where a special mass had been organised.

But the party did not stop - packed into the pews and under the arches of the Metropolitan Cathedral jubilant Argentinians clapped, cheered and whistled.

The new pontiff will lead the 33m Catholics in Argentina - roughly 89per cent of the country's population - and 1.2bn Catholics around the world.

He is the first Latin American Pope and the first from the developing world.