Pope Francis, the first man in the modern era from outside Europe to lead the Roman Catholic Church, prizes compassion, humility and simplicity — so much that he gave up his chauffeur in Argentina and took the bus to work.
He is the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus, a Catholic order founded in the 16th century by St. Ignatius Loyola. Its members, known as Jesuits, take a vow of poverty and are known for their work among the poor and their scholarship.
“A man who calmly stands for what’s right and just,” Cardinal Edward Egan, the archibishop emeritus of New York, told NBC News. “A man of great compassion for the poor. That is what they point to first and foremost.”
During an economic crisis that gripped his home country over the last decade, Francis, then Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergolio, asserted himself as a champion of the least fortunate and a defender of social justice.
“We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least,” Bergoglio told Latin American bishops in 2007, according a recent profile in the National Catholic Reporter. “The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to Heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers.”
The new pope is known to be conservative on social issues. He has opposed abortion and gay marriage, and in 2010 he drew the ire of Argentina’s president when he said that gay adoption was a form of discrimination against children.
Argentina in 2010 became the first country in Latin America to legalize gay marriage. During the debate that preceded the change, Bergoglio called the bill “a plan to destroy God’s plan.”
“This is no mere legislative bill,” he said. “It is a move by the father of lies to confuse and deceive the children of God.”
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner shot back that the then-cardinal was speaking in terms “really reminiscent of the times of the Inquisition.”
As archbishop, Bergoglio had the option to live in a palace but chose a simple apartment, according to the National Catholic Reporter. He gave up a limousine for the bus, and cooks his own meals.
In the first act of his papacy, he chose the name Francis, becoming the namesake of St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up his riches and chose a life of poverty and prayer.
He was born in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17, 1936, his father an Italian railway worker. He was elevated to cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.
At 76, he had been considered by some observers too old for the job — particularly following Benedict, who said that at 85 he was no longer healthy enough to lead the church. Francis has only one lung, the other removed because of an infection when he was a teenager.
Still, Egan said: “I can assure you that he is not feeble in any way.”
His official biographer has said that Francis has both keen political instincts and self-effacing humility, and that he would encourage a kind of shoe-leather evangelism within the church. He is known to walk the streets of Buenos Aires to talk to the people.
He told priests in Argentina last year: “Jesus teaches us another way: Go out. Go out and share your testimony, go out and interact with your brothers, go out and share, go out and ask. Become the word in body as well as spirit.”
Perhaps helping him overcome the traditional reluctance to elect a Jesuit pope, he fell out of favor among some Jesuits in Argentina after he was elected to the title of Jesuit provincial in 1973.
Argentina was ruled in the late 1970s by a brutal military dictatorship, and many Jesuits were drawn to a progressive activist movement within the church known as liberation theology. Church leaders backed the dictatorship publicly, and Bergoglio discouraged priests from political activism.
Two of his Jesuit priests who followed the liberation theology movement were kidnapped from the slums by the military regime in 1976. Bergoglio personally appealed to the dictator, Jorge Videla, and had them freed. One of the priests later accused Bergoglio of effectively handing them over to the death squads in the first place.
Newly elected Pope Francis appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on March 13, in Vatican City, Vatican. Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pontiff and will lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
People from Argentina cheer as newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, on March 13.
A nun reacts after white smoke billowed from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel indicating that a new pope has been elected in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on March 13.
Newly elected Pope Francis waves to the waiting crowd from the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on March 13.
Argentina's Jorge Bergoglio, elected Pope Francis waves from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica's after being elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13
A man stands in front of St. Peter's Basilica after white smoke billowed out of the chimney on March 13, in Vatican City.
Visitors take photos of Pope Francis as he speaks from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on March 13.
A person waves Argentina's flag after white smoke rose from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel on March 13.
Parishioners ring the 100-year-old bells in the tower of Holy Rosary Cathedral in honor of new Pope Francis in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 13.
A girl waves an American flag as she reacts before newly elected Pope Francis appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on March 13.
Cardinals watch as Pope Francis speaks to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, on March 13
French proto-deacon cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, center, announces the name of the new Pope, Argentinian cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on March 13.
Swiss guards arrive in front of the balcony where the new pope will appear, minutes after white smoke rose from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on March 13.
A woman cheers as white smoke rises from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, indicating a new pope has been elected at the Vatican on March 13.
A general view shows the crowd at St. Peter's Square after white smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel announcing that Catholic Church cardinals had elected a new pope on March 13.
Flavio Scherer, brother of Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, and his wife Terezina Scherer, left, react as white smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, as they watch a live transmission from their house in Toledo, Brazil, on March 13. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope, the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. Scherer was considered a likely contender to be named pope.
White smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on March 13. The white smoke indicates that a new pope has been elected.
People wait in the rain under umbrellas at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 13.
A bird stands on the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel, during the second day of voting for the election of a new pope at the Vatican on March 13.
Black smoke emerges from a chimney on the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope has not been elected, on March 13. In the foreground is the statue of St. Paul.
People shelter from rain while waiting for smoke to rise from a chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel during the second day of the conclave, on March 13.
Nuns wait for the chimney smoke in St. Peter's Square during the second day of the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, on March 13. Black smoke again billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, meaning that Catholic cardinals did not elect a pope on their second or third rounds of balloting.
TV tents sit near the St. Peter's Basilica during the conclave on March 12.
A nun looks through binoculars as people wait for smoke from a chimney in St. Peter's Square on March 12.
Nuns react as black smoke rises from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, indicating that no pope has been elected, in Vatican City on March 12.
Black smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, in St. Peter's Square, on March 12. The black smoke indicates that the cardinals did not elect a new pope.
People watch on a video monitor in St. Peter's Square as Monsignor Guido Marini, master of liturgical ceremonies, closes the double doors to the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City on March 12, at the start of the conclave of cardinals to elect the next pope. Marini closed the doors after shouting "Extra omnes," Latin for "all out," telling everyone but those taking part in the conclave to leave the frescoed hall. He then locked it.
Cardinals take an oath of secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, on March 12, before they start the conclave to elect the 266th Roman Catholic pope.
Cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel prior to the start of the conclave at the Vatican, on March 12.
Pilgrims in St. Peter's Square watch a giant television screen showing cardinals in the Sistine Chapel before the conclave begins on March 12 in Vatican City.
Cardinals and the faithful attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, on March 12.
U.S. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, left, shares a word with Hong Kong Cardinal John Tong Hon as they attend a Mass for the election of a new pope celebrated by Cardinal Angelo Sodano inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on March 12.
Cardinal Angelo Sodano leads other cardinals in a Mass for the election of a new pope inside St. Peter's Basilica, at the Vatican, on March 12.
A Cardinal prays during a mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican March 12. All cardinals, including those over 80 who will not vote in the conclave, celebrate Mass in St Peter's Basilica to pray for the election of the new pope. The Mass is called "Pro Eligendo Romano Pontefice" ("For the Election of the Roman Pontiff") and was open to the public.
The sun sets behind St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square on March 11, in Vatican City.
People gather in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 11.
The inside of the Sistine Chapel, which has been prepared for the conclave voting by the cardinals, at the Vatican.
The Sistine Chapel stoves that will send up the smoke signal that lets the world know if a pope has been elected.
Cardinals will place their votes for the next pope in these urns.
The vestments for the next pope, displayed in three different sizes, hang in the "Room of Tears" prior to the start of the conclave in the Sistine Chapel on March 12.
Members of the fire and rescue service install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on March 9
A priest makes a phone call as workers install velvet curtains on the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on March 11 in Vatican City.
Members of the media stand in St. Peter's Square on March 12.
A nun prays in front of St. Peter's Basilica early on March 12.
Pope Francis: His Life before Papacy
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, leads a Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Feb. 14, 2013. Cardinal Bergoglio was named leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics on March 13, 2013, after being elected pope. He will be known as Pope Francis I.
In this undated picture released by journalist Sergio Rubin, then priest Jorge Mario Bergoglio, second from left in back row, poses for a picture with his family in an unknown location. Bergoglio, who took the name of Pope Francis, was elected on Wednesday, March 13, 2013, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Top row, from left to right, his brother Alberto Horacio, Bergoglio, his brother Oscar Adrian and his sister Marta Regina. Bottom row, from left to right, his sister Maria Elena, his mother Regina Maria Sivori and his father Mario Jose Bergoglio.
New Argentine cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio kisses Pope John Paul II after he received the red berretta, a four-cornered red hat, during the Consistory ceremony in Saint Peter's Square on Feb. 21, 2001.
The archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, washes the feet of a unidentified woman on Holy Thursday at the Buenos Aires' Sarda maternity hospital on March 24, 2005.
Cardinal Bergoglio greets worshippers in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Liniers on Aug. 7, 2009.
Pope Benedict XVI meets Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, on Jan. 13, 2007.
Argentine Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio draws the cross on the forehead of a believer during a Mass for Ash Wednesday on Feb. 13, 2013, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires.
Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, left, holds on to his umbrella next to Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as they walk in St. Peter's Square after attending a cardinals' meeting at the Vatican on March 6, 2013.
Pope Francis I appears on the central balcony of St Peter's Basilica on March 13, 2013 in Vatican City. Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pontiff and will lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics.
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