His first words, "pray for me." Described above all as a pastor, very attentive to those who are in trouble of any kind, he leads a life that eschews any "worldliness" and it is not uncommon to meet him on the buses of Argentina's capital. The successor of Benedict XVI is also the one who, in the Conclave of 2005, was the only other real contender.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Jorge Bergoglio, is the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America, from what used to be called the Third World and also the first to have chosen the name Francis, undoubtedly significant and indicative of a style and a program, which also emerged from the first words that he addressed to the huge crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square. " Brothers and sisters good evening. You all know that the duty of the Conclave was to give a bishop to Rome. It seems that my brother Cardinals have gone almost to the ends of the earth to get him... but here we are. I thank you for the welcome that has come from the diocesan community of Rome. First of all I would like to say a prayer pray for our Bishop Emeritus Benedict XVI. Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord will bless him and that our Lady will protect him." He then recited an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be. " And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and the people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood. My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with the help of my Cardinal Vicar, may be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city. And now I would like to give the blessing. But first I want to ask you a favour. Before the Bishop blesses the people I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me - the prayer of the people for their Bishop. Let us say this prayer - your prayer for me - in silence".

Described above all as a pastor, very attentive to those who are in trouble of any kind, he leads a life that eschews any "worldliness" and it is not uncommon to meet him on the buses of Argentina's capital.

The successor of Benedict XVI is also the only one who, in the Conclave of 2005, was a real contender. According to unofficial reports on that occasion, he asked those who voted, not to think about him.

Descended from an Italian family,  originally from Asti, the 266ththe successor of St. Peter was born in Buenos Aires December 17, 1936. He studied and graduated as a chemical engineer, but then chose the priesthood and entered the seminary in Villa Devoto. On March 11, 1958 he joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus, he studied humanities in Chile and in 1963, returning to Buenos Aires, took a degree in philosophy at the college up San Jose 'de San Miguel. Between 1964 and 1965 he was a professor of literature and psychology in the College of the Immaculate Conception of Santa Fe in 1966 and he taught the same subjects in the Savior's college in Buenos Aires. From 1967 to 1970 he studied theology at the Theological Faculty of the College of San Jose, San Miguel, from where he graduated.

On 13 December 1969 he was ordained a priest. In 1970-71, he made the third probation in Alcala de Henares (Spain), and on April 22, 1973 he made his perpetual profession. He was novices master at Villa Barilari, San Miguel (1972-1973), professor at the faculty of theology, a consultant for the Province and rector of the Major Seminary. On 31 July 1973, he was elected Provincial of Argentina, a position he held for six years. Between 1980 and 1986, he was rector of the Major Seminary and Dean of the Faculty' of philosophy and theology in the same Seminary and parish priest of San Jose Patriarch, in the Diocese of San Miguel. In March 1986 he traveled to Germany to complete his doctoral thesis.  Following this his superiors posted him to the College of the Savior, from where he moved to the church of the Society in the city of Cordoba as spiritual director and confessor.

On 20 May 1992, John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. On 3 June 1997 he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and on February 28, 1998 Archbishop of Buenos Aires, on the death of Cardinal Quarracino.

He is also the author of the following books: Meditaciones para religiosos del 1982, Reflexiones sobre la vida apostolica del 1986 and Reflexiones de esperanza del 1992. He is Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University of Argentina. He was a speaker at the 10th General / Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2001). From November 2005 to November 2011 he was president of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina. John Paul II created him a cardinal in the consistory of 21 February 2001. (FP)

 

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