Latin America reacts to first Pope from the region

Latin America is celebrating the first ever Pope, who's one of its very own. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. Of Italian ancestry, but born in Argentina, where he's lived most of his life...... he represents the old and new worlds. More than 40 percent of the World's one billion plus Catholics live in Latin America. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner rather formally wished him a fruitful pastoral mission, with such tremendous responsibility on his shoulders.

Archbishop of San Salvador Jose Luis Escobar caught the Latino mood of the moment far better with: "We are extremely grateful to God because we have a Latin American Pope."

Newly re-elected President of Ecuador Rafael Correa was even more aptly succinct with: "Long live Francis I."

Some the greatest challenges the Church faces are in Latin America, but so does the bedrock of some of its most youthful faithful- future generations, to nurture and develop in crucial challenging years to come. Millions of the faithful here have been somewhat surprised and are absolutely thrilled.

Listen to the report from correspondent James Blears: