Finally, the Catholic Church has gotten a new Pope. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina has been elected the New Pope. He has chosen Pope Francis as his papal name. He is from Argentina and the first South American to be elected a Pope. He is a Jesuit priest and the first Jesuit to be elected a Pope as well.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17 1936, he is one of the five children of an Italian railway worker and his wife. He was ordained a Jesuit priest on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. Between 1973 and 1979, he served as Provincial Superior for Argentina.

On February 28 1998, he was appointed bishop for the Eastern Catholics in Argentina. On February 2001, he was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. On November 8 2005 he was elected President of the Argentine Episcopal Conference for a three year term that was renewed on November 11, 2008.

He majored in Pastoral work/skills as a theologian and this is advantageous to his papacy. Besides, he is a strict defender of the Catholic doctrine and faith. He opposed the Argentine government on issues bordering on abortion, same sex marriage, distribution of contraceptives, child adoption by same sex couples, social justice, etc.

He is an influential and respected cleric and prelate. In 2005, he was elected a member of the Post-Synodal Council during the 2005 Synod of Bishops. His participation in that Synod may have brought him to limelight among bishops as many writers think.

The new pope has been a gentleman right from time. Beside this, he is popularly known for his simplicity and humility. He was first ordained as one of three axillary bishops and he dedicated most of his time to counseling priests and hearing confessions. When he was installed the bishop, he preferred to live 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 cooked his own meals.

He is a reformer and a builder who created several new parishes in his diocese. He is as well a core pro-lifer. We wish him all the best in his pontificate as the 266th successor of St. Peter.

courtesy of www.uwakwereflections.com

he champions the poor and single mothers.

not sure of his stance on gaay issues and birth control.