Tenemos El "Papa Negro" – Shattering 500 Years, Jesuits Call an American General

As anticipated, the watershed has come to pass – albeit with a twist.

For the first time in its nearly five centuries of existence, global Catholicism's largest and most influential religious order has sent its leadership beyond Europe.... Yet even as the bulk of the modern Society of Jesus now belongs to Asia, the direction of the historic shift went elsewhere: the 30th successor of St Ignatius is a Latin American – not so much an intrepid move as an intriguing echo of the cardinals' vote three years ago, this choice now accordingly bound to a certain Argentinian Jesuit-turned-Pope.

Just after Roman Noon, word emerged from Borgo Santo Spirito that Fr Arturo Sosa (right) – the 67 year-old Venezuelan serving as delegate for the Jesuit houses in Rome – was elected the Company's 31st Father-General, the election completed after some two hours.

More to come.

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