Marc Cardinal Ouellet is reported saying he felt a sense of relief he was not chosen pope.

According to a La Presse report, Ouellet said, “I was psychologically prepared for any result. When I saw the cardinals lining up behind someone else, I was relieved. The result of the conclave was the best one possible”.

Ouellet once said becoming the leader of the Roman Catholic church would be a "nightmare”.

Italian reports say the 68-year old Quebec cardinal asked his supporters to back Argentina's Cardinal Bergoglio, who went on to become the leader of the world's 1.2 billion catholics, naming himself Pope Francis.

Ouellet currently heads the Vatican's bishops' office where he plays a key role in the selection of bishops and archbishops around the world.

There's word he could well be promoted as a result of his persuasive role during the vatican vote.