Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has asked international economist Mario Monti to form a new government.

The widely expected nomination came Sunday evening, a short while after the president summoned the 68-year-old technocrat to the presidential palace.

Monti received support for the top job from major opposition parties and some members of Mr. Berlusconi's ruling center-right PDL party.

He has never held elected office in Italy and does not represent any party. When reporters approached him as he went to church Sunday morning, he declined to comment on his prospects of becoming prime minister