New Pope: Jorge Mario Bergoglio takes “Francis” as name

New Pope: Jorge Mario Bergoglio takes “Francis” as name

March 14th, 2013

Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been elected as new pope of the Catholic Church.

• 266th pope
• Native of Argentina.
• Became first pontiff from outside Europe in more than a millennium since Syrian-born Pope Gregory III, who died in 741. Thus, he is the first non-European pope since the 8th century.

He has chosen the name Pope “Francis”. He is now both the leader of the Catholic Church and sovereign ruler of the Vatican City State.