Earlier today a conclave of Roman Catholic cardinals picked the 266th pontiff, Jorge Mario Bergoglio who will be known as Pope Francis. The 76-year-old is the first Latin American pope and first non-European leader of the church in more than a millennia. The first Jesuit pope, the new man in white also is the first pope to use to the name Francis, a name often connected St. Francis of Assisi and with virtues like poverty and humility.
"I would like to thank you for your embrace," the new pope told the faithful outside St. Peter's Basilica today before thanking his fellow cardinals, who he said "have chosen one from far away, but here I am."
So who is this new pope besides being a white man in his seventies? Reportedly the runner up to the last pope in 2005, Bergoglio has garnered respect for his simple living: "a Prince of the Church who chose to live in a simple apartment rather than the archbishop's palace, who gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of taking the bus to work, and who cooked his own meals."
Born in Buenos Aires in 1936, Bergoglio's father was an Italian immigrant. In 1958 he entered the Society of Jesus and began studies for the priesthood. From 1973 to 1979 he served as the Jesuit provincial in Argentina, then in 1980 became the rector of the seminary from which he had graduated. Bergoglio was named auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and then succeeded the ailing Cardinal Antonio Quarracino in 1998. John Paul II made Bergoglio a cardinal in 2001.
As for his all-important politics? Much has already been made of Bergoglio's compassion towards the sick (in 2001 he visited a hospice to wash and kiss the feet of 12 AIDS patients). Which is nice. But when it comes to sexual morals he is definitely of the classic Catholic mold, saying in 2001 that gay adoption is a form of discrimination against children, and staunchly opposing abortion, same-sex marriage (a "destructive attack on God’s plan") and contraception.
