NEW POPE: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio Elected the 266th Pope

Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina has been chosen as the new pope. He is the first people from the Western Hemisphere and will be known at Francis I.

The task of the College of Cardinals was to select a successor to Benedict XVI. To be chosen, a candidate had to win the support of at least two-thirds of the 115 voting-age cardinals. Anticipation over the identity of the new pope began to build once a puff of white smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, in Vatican City.

Bergoglio, now spiritual father to the planet's 1.2 billion Catholics, inherits a church wrestling with an array of challenges that intensified during his predecessor - from a priest shortage and growing competition from evangelical churches in the Southern Hemisphere where most of the world's Catholics live, to a sexual abuse crisis, to difficulties governing the Vatican itself.

Benedict, now pope emeritus, spent much of Tuesday watching the pre-conclave proceedings on television and secluded in prayer, said Rev. Frederico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman. See the profile of the new pope after the cut...

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 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits on 13 December 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 20 May 1992 he was appointed titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, receiving episcopal consecration on 27 June. On 3 June 1997 was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on 28 February 1998. He is also Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an Ordinary of their own rite.

Current Status of Jorge Mario Bergoglio:

Jorge Mario Bergoglio is archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Theology of Jorge Mario Bergoglio:

Jorge Mario Bergoglio is generally conservative in his theology and is believed to be close to Communion & Liberation, a doctrinally conservative movement that grew in power and numbers under the guidance of John Paul II.

Assessment of Jorge Mario Bergoglio:

Jorge Mario Bergoglio is a strong supporter of helping the poor. When he was made cardinal in 2001, he discouraged people from spending the money to fly to Rome to celebrate with him and advised that they instead donate the funds to help alleviate poverty at home. He lives in a simple apartment and cooks his own meals. 

Bergoglio does not, however, spend a great deal of time preaching about social justice. He instead preaches about the importance of spirituality and assumes that a correct understanding of God will naturally lead people to care more about the poor. 

Probably the strongest factor working against Bergoglio is the fact that he is a Jesuit. He is the first Jesuit pope, notwithstanding the strong anti-Jesuit feelings within the Catholic church.