Vincent Nichols: 'I was astonished' at Pope decision

Pope Francis - the first non-European Pope in more than a millennium - will celebrate the first mass of his reign on Thursday, before starting to face the challenges which he was elected to take on.

The Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, whose choice of the Papal name Francis was a gesture towards a saint closely linked to his work among the poor, has asked Catholics to pray for him as he begins his work.

Argentine MP, Jorge Triaca, who knew Pope Francis as Archbishop of Buenos Aries, said: "We knew we had a good priest... but we never thought he was going to be the next Pope.

"Most of us have split feelings... I'm so excited... but I'm also going to miss my good friend."

The Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, who is president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, said he was "astonished" at first by the decision.

"He's been alongside people who are the victims of economic progress that doesn't deliver for the common good and I think that will give a real edge to that teaching in the Catholic tradition."

BBC news presenter Ed Stourton reported from Rome.

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday 14 March 2013.