Thousands around the world watched today as Pope Francis emerged to greet the crowd at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
His election to the papacy is historic for a number of reasons. Yet for many, his election was something of a surprise.
The former Cardinal Bergoglio was the archbishop of Buenos Aires, a position he held since 1998. He was considered a “dark horse” candidate to become Pope by many papal historians and observers.
He has been a cardinal since 2001, and was an active participant in the papal conclave that elected Joseph Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI.
Global News reached out to our panel of experts to get their initial reaction to Cardinal Bergolio’s election as Pope.
Background
Born on December 7, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio is currently 76 years old – the very same age as Pope Benedict XVI when he assumed the papacy.
Bergoglio’s election as Pope marks the first time in the history of the papacy that the Cardinal of Rome has been of South American descent. However, while Pope Francis is breaking ground in one regard, the new pontiff has traditional lineage, as well.
“His father was an Italian immigrant to Buenos Aires, so he has that traditional Italian ancestry,” Father John Comiskey, church historian at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario.
What’s in a name?
Alongside his background, Bergoglio’s choice of papal name is also a historic first.
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“There has never been a Pope Francis,” Guruge said. “In fact, he is the first Pope since John Paul I to bring a new introduction to papal names.”
It is believed he chose the title to honor St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order and one of the most revered historical figures in the Catholic faith.
A Jesuit Pope
Aside from his name and his ethnicity, other aspects of Pope Francis’ papacy are historic, as well.
“He is the first Jesuit to serve as Pope,” Guruge said. “That’s huge because it had always been believed that a Jesuit would never be Pope.”
Jesuits are members of a church society known as the Society of Jesus, and are noted for their commitment to missionary and educational missions around the world. They are known as “God’s Marines” for their willingness to follow any order given by the Pope, and to travel and spread the gospel in any corner of the world.
“Jesuits have always said they prefer to serve the Pope rather than be the Pope,” Guruge explained. “One of the reasons Bergoglio flew under the radar was because he was a Jesuit. His becoming Pope is an absolutely huge moment for the papacy.”
A Simple Man
According to our papal experts, one of the hallmarks of Bergoglio’s time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires was his commitment to social justice, as well as his reputation for living a simple life.
“He’s a man who’s known for his simple life and great intellect,” Father Comiskey said. “When he became the archbishop in 1998, he gave up the archbishop’s palace and moved into a small apartment.”
“He doesn’t get driven to places – he takes the bus,” Guruge said. “There’s a bit of a saying that if people in Buenos Aires wanted to meet him, all they had to do was wait at a bus stop.”
Fast Facts:
• Born: Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Education: Studied at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel
• Ordained for the Jesuits on Dec. 13, 1969
• Languages: Speaks Spanish, Italian and German
• Ordained titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary of Buenes Aires on June 27, 1992
• Proclaimed cardinal by Pope John Paul II on Feb. 21, 2001. Participated in conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005.
• Despite being Argentina’s top church official, Bergoglio never lived in the ornate church mansion in Buenos Aires, preferring a simple bed in a downtown room heated by a small stove. For years, he took public transportation around the city and cooked his own meals.
• Bergoglio has slowed a bit with age and is feeling the effects of having a lung removed due to infection when he was a teenager; two obstacles against him receiving the post at a time when many Vatican-watchers say the next pope should be relatively young and strong.
• His outspoken criticism couldn’t prevent Argentina from becoming the first Latin American country to legalize same-sex marriage or stop its president, Cristina Fernandez, from promoting free contraception and artificial insemination. When Bergoglio argued that gay adoptions discriminate against children, Fernandez compared his tone to “medieval times and the Inquisition.”
• His church did not have a say when the Argentine Supreme Court expanded access to legal abortions in rape cases.
• Critics accuse him of failing to stand up publicly against the country’s military dictatorship from 1976-1983, when victims and their relatives often brought first-hand accounts of torture, death and kidnappings.
With files from the Associated Press
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