Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite, was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits on December 13, 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 May 20, 1992 he was appointed titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, receiving episcopal consecration on June 27. On June 3, 1997 was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on February 28, 1998. He is also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite.
Adjunct Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, October 2001.
On November 8, 2005 he was elected President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of February 21, 2001, of the Title of S. Roberto Bellarmino (St. Robert Bellarmine).
On March 13, 2013 Cardinal Bergoglio was elected as the Bishop of Rome, taking the name Pope Francis I.
Member of:
- Congregations: for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; for the Clergy; for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ;
- Pontifical Council for the Family;
- Pontifical Commission for Latin America;
- XI Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
