"Pope Francis - Jorge Mario Bergoglio:" - Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the first pope from the Americas. Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958 and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. After being his close collaborator, he succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on February 28, 1998, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. From 2004 to 2008 he was president of the Argentinean Episcopal Conference. On March 13, 2013 he was elected pope during the second day of the Conclave, on the fifth ballot. He chose the name of Francis.