Argentina's Bergoglio elected as new Pope Francis -Wednesday March 13,2013

Jorge Mario Bergoglio(Argentina) was elected to be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Wednesday March 13,2013, taking the name Francis I and becoming the first non-European pontiff in nearly 1,300 years.The papal name most often chosen was John (23 times), followed by Gregory and Benedict (16 times each)

 Francis has became the 266th pontiff in the Church's 2,000-year history.Born in Argentina, Pope Francis is the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the first Jesuit.A bishop from 1992, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and at the 2005 conclave was seen as a contender for the papacy.

Pope Francis

 

• Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec 17, 1936 (age 76) in Buenos Aires, of Italian descent
• Ordained as a Jesuit in 1969
• Studied in Argentina and Germany
• Became Cardinal of Buenos Aires in 1998
• Seen as orthodox on sexual matters but strong on social justice
• First Latin American and first Jesuit to become pope, the 266th to lead the Church

Who are the Jesuits?

• The Society of Jesus is a male order of the Catholic Church, with 19,000 members worldwide
• It was established in 16th Century Europe as a missionary order and members swear vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
• The order became so powerful that it was suppressed at the end of the 18th Century but later restored

Pope Francis appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica just over an hour after white smoke poured from a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel to signal 115 cardinal electors had chosen him to lead the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics

The choice of Bergoglio, who is the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope, was announced by French cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran with the Latin words "Habemus Papam" ("We have a pope.")

Visitors wait for the chimney smoke in St. Peter's Square during the second day of the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Wednesday, March 13, 2013

People shelter under umbrellas while they wait in St Peter's Square for news on the election of a new Pope on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican

^{Note
1)Benedict XVI of Germany(born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger; 16 April 1927) is Pope Emeritus of the Catholic Church. He served as the 265th Pope from 2005 to 2013.He was elected on April 19,2005 and on Feb 11,2013 announced his resignation citing lack of strength of mind and body due to his advanced age and the resignation became effective on Feb 28,2013}

2)John Paul II of Poland(Birth Name -Karol Józef Wojtyła)(May 18,1920 – April 2, 2005)reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005.He was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate.He was the 2nd longest serving serving Pope in history and the 1st Non-Italian since 1523