A Vatican Press Office spokesperson on Thursday confirmed Pope Francis I, who until Wednesday was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, chose the name to honour the patron saint of Italy, servant of the poor and lover of nature and animals.

The Calwell school is also named for the saint, born to wealthy parents in Assisi in 1181 or 1182.

Principal David Austin said the school community would celebrate the choice.

''It is an excellent choice for the new Pope, given St Francis spent his life caring for the poor and building the church,'' he said. ''The students are excited at the choice after we have discussed the process and what's been going on in Rome over the past few weeks.''

Mr Austin said a portrait of the new Pope would take pride of place in the school alongside an image of St Francis of Assisi.

The school's official Twitter account broke news of the new pontiff's choice of name early on Thursday morning.

Pope Francis will meet young Catholics from around the world at the World Youth Day festival in Rio de Janeiro in late July.

An estimated crowd of four million young Catholics will attend the event.

Names are a closely watched aspect of new papacies, with Francis the first to choose the name. There have been 23 pope Johns, 16 Gregories, 16 Benedicts, 14 Clements and 13 each of Leo and Innocent.