12 Things To Know About New Pope Francis

Pope Francis

There are many things unique about Argentina’s Jorge Mario Bergoglio who recently emerged as the new Pope.
Here are 12 striking features about the new Pontiff.



- He is the first man from South America to lead the 1.2 billion world’s catholic population.
- Prior to his election, he served as an Argentine cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.
- He has served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998. He was elevated to the cardinalate in 2001.
- Jorge Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, one of the five children of an Italian railway worker.
- After studying at the seminary in Villa Devoto, he entered the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958. He obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo San José in San Miguel, and then taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada in Santa Fe, and the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires.
- He was ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano.
- Attended the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel, a seminary in San Miguel.
- He attained the position of novice master there and became professor of theology.
- As Cardinal, he became known for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social justice.
- He lives in a small apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop’s residence.
- He gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of public transportation, and he reportedly cooks his own meals.
- The new Pope is an accomplished theologian who distanced himself from liberation theology early in his career.