We Have A Pope

White smoke signaled from the Vatican's Sistine Chapel at 2.10 am (Thursday). The new Pope appeared at the balcony at St Peter's Basilica within an hour of the vote. "Harbemus Papem" means we have Pope. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio (from Argentina) has been elected as the 266th Pope. He takes the name of the new pontiff as Pope Francis I. He is the first South American Pope.

Born: Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Education: Studied at Theological Faculty of San Miguel. Received licentiate in philosophy.

Ordained for the Jesuits on Dec. 13, 1969.

Ordained titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary of Buenos Aires on June 27, 1992.

Became archbishop of Buenos Aires on Feb. 28, 1998.

Received title ordinary for the Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an ordinary in their own rite on Nov. 30, 1998.
Proclaimed cardinal by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 21, 2001.

Participated in conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.

He speaks his native language Spanish, Bergoglio and also Italian and German.

He specialises in pastoral work and spends his entire carrier in Argentina. A humble and down to earth man. A Pope for the poor. He was immediately acclaimed as a pope of many firsts: the first Jesuit pope, the first pope of the Americas, and also the first to choose the name Francis.

The Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate is scheduled for March 19, next Tuesday, the feast of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary.