VATICAN, March 16 (RIA Novosti) – The newly elected pope explained on Saturday what inspired him to pick the name Francis, which has never been used in papal history before.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, who was elected the 266th pope on Wednesday, said during an audience with journalists that Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes had told him not to forget the poor when the conclave voted in his favor.

"He [Cardinal Hummes] hugged me. He kissed me. He said don't forget about the poor. And that's how in my heart came the name Francis of Assisi,” the pope said.

He added that St. Francis was “the poor man who wanted a poor church."

The inauguration of the new leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, will be held on March 19.

After the inauguration, on March 23, Pope Francis will meet with his predecessor Benedict XVI, who stepped down on February 28, at the papal summer retreat of Castel Gandolfo.

© RIA Novosti.

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