Vatican City ( CNN ) -- Call him Pope Francis , the pontiff of firsts . When Jorge Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony at the Vatican on Wednesday to reveal himself as the new leader of the world 's 1.2 billion Catholics , he made history as the first non-European pope of the modern era , the first from Latin America , the first Jesuit and the first to assume the name Francis . What do you think about the new pope ? Tell us . The new pope then quickly made another kind of history , breaking with tradition in his first public act before the 150,000 people packed into St. Peter 's Square . Rather than bless the crowd first , he asked them to pray for him . `` Let us say this prayer , your prayer for me , in silence , '' he told the cheering crowd . The willingness by Francis to dispense with tradition was interpreted by a Vatican spokesman as a sign he will be willing to chart his own path in other ways . Pope 's name choice 'precedent shattering ' `` We have a pope who probably upset some people tonight by not following the formula , '' the Rev . Tom Rosica said . The pontiff also broke with another tradition by refusing to use a platform to elevate himself above the cardinals standing with him as he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis . `` He said I 'll stay down here , '' Cardinal Timothy Dolan , archbishop of New York and the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops . `` He met each of us on our own level . '' Francis , wearing white papal robes , appeared on a rain-soaked night to the throngs shortly after being elected by cardinals in what apparently was the fifth round of voting on the second day of the conclave . `` As you know , the duty of the conclave was to appoint a new Bishop of Rome , '' he said . `` It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway . But here I am . I would like to thank you for your embrace . '' As pope , Bergoglio takes the helm of a Catholic Church that has been rocked in recent years by sex abuse by priests and claims of corruption and infighting among the church hierarchy . First Latin American pope 'very exciting ' Conservative reformer . The 76-year-old Bergoglio , who served as the archbishop of Buenos Aires , is the first pope to take the name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi , revered among Catholics for his work with the poor . St. Francis is viewed as a reformer of the church , answering God 's call to `` repair my church in ruins . '' The pontiff is considered a straight shooter who calls things as he sees them , and a follower of the church 's most social conservative wing . As a cardinal , he clashed with the government of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner over his opposition to gay marriage and free distribution of contraceptives . Latin America is home to 480 million Catholics . By choosing Bergoglio , the cardinals sent a strong message about where the future of the church may lie . According to a profile by CNN Vatican analyst John Allen and published by the National Catholic Reporter , Francis was born in Buenos Aires to an Italian immigrant father . 5 things to know about the new pope . He is known for his simplicity . He chose to live in an apartment rather that the archbishop 's palace , passed on a chauffeured limousine , took the bus to work and cooked his own meals , Allen wrote . Francis has a reputation for being a voice for the poor . World reacts . Word of the election of Pope Francis , who was not considered a front-runner among analysts , quickly spread around the globe , with everyone from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to U.S. President Barack Obama offering congratulations . `` As the first pope from the Americas , his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world , and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans , those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day , '' Obama said . World reacts to new pope . Ban said the new pope shares common goals with the United Nations , from the promotion of peace to social justice . `` We also share the conviction that we can only resolve the interconnected challenges of today 's world through dialogue , '' he said . Nowhere was the reaction to Bergoglio 's selection as pope more surprising than in Latin America . `` I am truly still very surprised ... not just that a Latino pope came out , but that he is an Argentinian from Buenos Aires , '' the Rev . Eduardo Mangiarotti told CNN en Espanol . Calling Benedict . The new pope called his predecessor , Benedict XVI , after he was elected , Rosica said . Francis plans to visit with Benedict on Thursday ahead of an evening Mass with the cardinals in the Sistine Chapel , according to the Vatican . Francis participated in the conclave that elected Benedict in April 2005 . He was widely reported to be a runner-up to Benedict in the election . The new pontiff will deliver the traditional Angelus blessing from the Vatican on Sunday , Rosica said . Francis will be formally installed as pope at a Mass on Tuesday , according to the Vatican . What 's in a name ? Bergoglio 's selection of the name of Pope Francis is `` the most stunning '' choice and `` precedent shattering , '' Allen said . `` The new pope is sending a signal that this will not be business as usual . '' The name symbolizes `` poverty , humility , simplicity and rebuilding the Catholic Church , '' Allen said . St. Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 or 1182 the son of a rich Italian cloth merchant , according to the Vatican website . After `` a carefree adolescence and youth , '' Francis joined the military and was taken prisoner . He was freed after becoming ill , and when he returned to Assisi , Italy , a spiritual conversion began , and he abandoned his worldly lifestyle . In a famous episode , Christ on the cross came to life three times in the small Church of St. Damian and told him : `` Go , Francis , and repair my Church in ruins , '' Pope Benedict XVI said , according to Vatican 's website . CNN 's Richard Allen Greene and Hada Messia reported from Vatican City , and Chelsea J. Carter wrote and reported from Atlanta . CNN 's Dana Ford , Catherine E. Shoichet , Mariano Castillo and Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
Pope Francis refused to stand on an elevated platform , a cardinal says . Francis will meet with his predecessor on Thursday , Vatican says . Jorge Bergoglio , breaks with tradition , asks crowd to pray for him . Request is a break with tradition , the Vatican says .