(Vatican Radio) The man elected to be the 265th Successor of Saint Peter in the conclave,
is 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. He
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. Adjunct
Relator General of the 10th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,
October 2001. He served as President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from
8 November 2005 until 8 November 2011. Created and proclaimed Cardinal by the Bl.
John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Roberto Bellarmino
(St. Robert Bellarmine). Member of:
Congregations: for Divine
Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments; for the Clergy; for Institutes of Consecrated
Life and Societies of Apostolic Life ; Pontifical Council for the Family; Pontifical
Commission for Latin America.