Pope Francis: Argentina's Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is new Catholic leader

In a dramatic break from tradition that many of the faithful in the developing world had been hoping for, the Roman Catholic Church has for the first time elected a pope from the Americas.

On what was a night of firsts, the College of Cardinals’ surprise choice, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Jesuit to be named the Vicar of Christ and the first pope to ever style himself Francis after a simple-living 13th century saint of that name who lived and worked among the poorest of the poor. This is something the Jesuit order, which has sometimes been regarded with suspicion by the Vatican, is deeply committed to.

In choosing the Archbishop of Buenos Aires as the 266th pope, the College of Cardinals signalled it is now the turn of the Church in Latin America, which is home to nearly 500 million of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, to lead.


Dec. 17, 1936:

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina

1969:

Ordained for the Jesuits.

May, 1992:

Appointed titular Bishop of Auica and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires.

1998:

Appointed bishop of Buenos Aires.

February, 2001:

Created a cardinal by John Paul II and took title of St. Robert Bellarmine.

2005:

President of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina until 2011.

Bergoglio studied philosophy at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel. He speaks Spanish, Italian and German.

Read more from source: canada.com