The College of Cardinals have elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aires, Argentina as the 266th Pontiff of the Roman Catholic. Cardinal Bergoglio is the first Pope to have taken the latin name of Francesco after Saint Francis of Assisi. He is also the first Jesuit Pope.
Pope Francis is the first non-European Pope of the Roman Catholic Church since Saint Peter founded the church. The 76-year-old Pope had spent his entire career in Argentina until his election today and was a fore-runner against Pope Benedict XVI in the 2005 Papal Conclave.
While Cardinal-Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio decided to live in an apartment, make his own meals, and take a bus to work everyday. He decided to forgo the perks of being Cardinal such as personal drivers, chefs, and a large private residence. Bergoglio is best known for his fight for social justice for the poor.
Although Francis’ papacy begins immediately, the formal installation mass will not be held for another few days. Vatican spokesman Fr. Frederico Lombardi commented that Tuesday, March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, is a possible date. At the installation mass Pope Francis will receive the Fisherman’s ring, previously worn by Pop Benedict, and the palladium, a wood stool that symbolizes the Pope’s authority.
After the installation mass the Pope will be driven around St. Peter’s Square to greet the public before visiting St. Paul’s, St. John Lateran’s and St. Mary Major’s basilicas in the following days.
Vatican Biography on Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
The man elected to be the 265th Successor of Saint Peter in the conclave, is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite. He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits on 13 December 1969 during his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel.
He was novice master in San Miguel, where he also taught theology. He was Provincial for Argentina (1973-1979) and rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel (1980-1986). After completing his doctoral dissertation in Germany, he served as a confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.On 20 May 1992 he was appointed titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, receiving episcopal consecration on 27 June. On 3 June 1997 was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998. He is also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite.
Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 2001.
He served as President of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina from 8 November 2005 until 8 November 2011.Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Roberto Bellarmino (St. Robert Bellarmine).
Member of:
Congregations: for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; for the Clergy; for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ; Pontifical Council for the Family; Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
