date: 14.03.2013.
New Holy Father is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, a 76 year old Jesuit, who has been elected to be the 265th Successor of Saint Peter in the conclave. He has taken the name Francis. This is the first time in the history of the Church that one Roman bishop has taken that name, the first time that one Jesuit was elected as Holy Father and the first time that Holy Father comes from Latin America.
He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, and comes from a family with five children, his father being and Italian immigrant. He gained degree in chemical technology, and later joined Novice of Jesuit order on March 11, 1958. He gained title in Arts in Chile, and in 1963, after he returned to Buenos Aires, he received degree in Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts “San Jose” in San Miguel. He taught literature and psychology for the next two years at the Faculty “Immacolata” in Santa Fe, and until 1966, he taught same courses at the Faculty “Salvatore” 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. The ones who were there at his Episcopal ordination were Apostolic Nuncio Ubaldo Calabresi and Bishop Merecedes - Lujana Emilio Ognjenovic.
On 3 June 1997, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino after his death on 28 February 1998. As the Archbishop, he used the public transport, and instead of living in palatial bishop’s residence, he lived in the rented apartment and gained the nick-name “Cardinal of the Poor”. He speaks Spanish, Italian and German. He is also known as a good chef, admirer of opera and a friend of Greek Classics, Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky. He is also good swimmer, even though he had problems with his lungs from his early childhood. He is the author of the following books: “Meditationes para religiosos“ (Meditations for Priests, 1982.), "Reflexiones sobre la vida apostolica" (Thoughts about the apostolic life, 1986), and "Reflexiones de esperanza" (Thoughts about the hope, 1992). He was also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite. He was Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in October 2001.
He served as President of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina from 8 November 2005 until 8 November 2011. He was 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).
He was the member of Congregations for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, Congregation for the Clergy, and Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Congregation for Pontifical Council for the Family, Congregation for Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
