Pope Francis calls for evangelism drive

Pope Francis has urged his cardinals "to find new ways to bring evangelisation to the ends of the Earth".

Addressing them as “brothers”, he said: "Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day."

He was speaking in the Salla Clementina, the ornate chamber where Pope Benedict held his final meeting before resigning last Month.

The new Pope was elected on Wednesday night after five secret ballots.

The 76-year-old Argentine is the first pope from Latin America, a region that has seen a dramatic shift in religious observance in recent years, with the Roman Catholic Church losing followers attracted to Pentecostal churches.

In his opening address on Wednesday night, Pope Francis joked that his electors had travelled "to the ends of the Earth" to find their new leader.

On Saturday, he is set to hold an audience for many of the 5,600 journalists accredited to cover the Conclave - giving him an opportunity to set out some of his global vision.

He will be officially installed at an inauguration Mass on Tuesday.

He has yet to make any senior appointments, and Vatican-watchers are keeping a keen eye on who gets the nod as sostituto.

BBC NEWS