A new pope has been elected.  After Pope Benedict announced his retirement, the cardinals had to start thinking of who would be a good fit for the open position.  On March 13, 2013, white smoke came out of the conclave chimney.  The cardinals made their decision after only two days.  Their elected pope was Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina.  He is now known as Pope Francis I.

He was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires.  His father was a railroad worker and his mother was a stay at home mom.  He had four other siblings.  When he was a teenager, he had to have one of his lungs removed due to infection.  In the following years, he attended the University of Buenos Aires where he studied chemistry.  He then began studies to become a Jesuit at a seminary in Villa Devoto.  He received his degree in philosophy from Theological Faculty of San Miguel.

In 1969, he was ordained a priest.  He then worked as a professor at his old school.  After this he became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and cardinal in 2001.  In 2013, he then won the papal election and became Pope Francis I.  He is the 266th pope.  Pope Francis I speaks Spanish, Italian and German.  He is very conservative, and is opposed to same-sex marriage and birth control.  He is an advocate for helping the poor and sick.  Pope Francis I hopes to bring a change to the Catholic Church by reverting back to simple ways.