POPE FRANCIS

The first Pope coming from America is the Argentine Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he is 76 years old, Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He was born in Buenos Aires the 17th December 1936, son of immigrants from Piedmont: his father Mario was an accountant, a railway employee, while his mother Regina Sivori, took care of the house and her 5 children.

He graduated as a chemical engineer, then chose the path of the priesthood entering the diocesan seminary. The 11th March 1958 switched to the novitiate of the company of Jesus. Completed the humanistic studies in Chile and in 1963,when he went back to Argentina, he graduated in philosophy at St. Joseph College in San Miguel. Between 1964 and 1965 he was a teacher of literature and Psychology at the Immaculate College of Santa Fè and, in 1966 he taught the same subjects in the “Salvatore” College in Buenos Aires. From 1967 to 1970 he studied theology and graduated at the College of St. Joseph.

The 13th December 1969 he was ordained priest by the Archbishop Ramòn José Castellano. He continued his studies between 1970-1971 in Spain and, the 22nd April 1973 made his final profession in the Jesuits.

Back to Argentina again he became a teacher of Novices at Villa Barilari in St. Miguel, professor at the faculty of theology, consultant for the province of the Society of Jesus and rector of the College.

The 31st July 1973 was elected provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina. Six years later he went back to work at university and, between 1980 and 1986, he became again rector at St. Joseph College as well as Parish priest in St. Miguel.

In 1986 he went to Germany to complete the doctoral thesis; then his superiors sent him to the Salvatore College in Buenos Aires and then to the Church of the Company in Cordoba, as spiritual director and confessor.1992

Then Cardinal Quarrancino wanted him as his close associate in Buenos Aires. Then the20th May 1992 the Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires.

The 27th June received in the cathedral the Episcopal ordination by the Cardinal.

As a motto he chose “Miserando atque eligendo” and in the coat of arms he fits the Histogram “ihs”, symbol of the Society of Jesus. He was immediately appointed Episcopal vicar of Flores area and the 21st December 1993 became general vicar. It wasn’t a surprise when, on 3rd June 1997 was promoted Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires. After nine months, after the death of Cardinal Quarrancino, he succeeded him, the 28th February 1998, as Archbishop, primate of Argentina, and ordinary for the faithful of the Eastern Rite residing in the country, and Grand Chancellor of the Catholic University.

In the consistory dated 21st February 2001, John Paul II nominated him Cardinal in the title of Roberto Bellarmino. In October 2001 he is appointed as general reporter added to the tenth General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, dedicated to the Episcopal ministry. Meanwhile, in Latin America, he became increasingly popular. In 2002 he declined the appointment as President of the Argentine Bishops’ conference, but three years later he was elected and then re-elected for another three years in 2008.

In the meanwhile, in April 2005, he took part to the conclave in which was elected Pope Benedict XVI.

As Archbishop of Buenos Aires –three million people- he thought at a missionary project focused on communion and evangelization.

There are 4 main goals in his project: open and fraternal communities, protagonist of a conscious laity, evangelization addressed to each inhabitant of the city, assistance to the poor and people suffering.

He invited priests and laity to work together. In September 2009 launched at a national level a solidarity campaign for the bi centenary of the country independence: 200 works of charity to be achieved within 2016. And, in a continental overview, he strongly believed in the message of Aparecida Conference dated 2007, and defined it “l’Evangelii nuntiandi of the Latin America”.

 

He then becomes Pope the 13th March 2013. 

Detail of weaving