Pope Francis

Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, is the first pontiff from South America. Here is a look at the Catholic leader.

5 Seconds

00:00

March 13, 2013

Newly elected Pope Francis I appears on the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th pontiff.

Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

March 13, 2013

The newly elected Pope Francis I appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals at the Vatican.

Stefano Rellandini / Reuters

1973

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, then a priest, poses for a photo.

Courtesy of Sergio Rubin / AP

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, second from left in back row, poses for a photo with his family in an unknown location. 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.

Courtesy of Sergio Rubin / AP

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, kisses the hand of the late Pope John Paul II during a ceremony at the Vatican.

Courtesy of Sergio Rubin / AP

April 4, 2005

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio celebrates Mass in honor of the late Pope John Paul II at a Buenos Aires cathedral.

Enrique Marcarian / Reuters

Jan. 13, 2007

Pope Benedict XVI, left, meets the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

/ Osservatore Romano via AFP/Getty Images

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio during a baptism ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

DAMIAN DOPACIO / AFP/Getty Images

Aug. 7, 2009

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, greets people outside San Cayetano Church in Buenos Aires.

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

Feb. 14, 2013

The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio leads a mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

Feb. 14, 2013

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio leads a mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

Feb. 13, 2013

Argentine Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio draws the cross on the forehead of a believer during a mass for Ash Wednesday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

JUAN MABROMATA / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Argentina's cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

DAMIAN DOPACIO / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Argentina's cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio shakes hands with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in Buenos Aires.

HO / AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio holds up a communion wafer.

LEONARDO ZAVATTARO / AFP/Getty Images

March 6, 2013

Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, right, hands Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet his skull cap after the wind blew it off as they walk in St. Peter's Square after attending a cardinals' meeting, at the Vatican.

Andrew Medichini / AP

Back to gallery

Discussion Policy | FAQ | About Discussions

Comments

Add your comment

Read what others are saying About Badges

SuperFan Badge

SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about Washington area sports and teams.

More about badges | Request a badge

Culture Connoisseur Badge

Culture Connoisseurs consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on the arts, lifestyle and entertainment.

More about badges | Request a badge

Fact Checker Badge

Fact Checkers contribute questions, information and facts to The Fact Checker.

More about badges | Request a badge

Washingtologist Badge

Washingtologists consistently post thought-provoking, timely comments on events, communities, and trends in the Washington area.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Writer Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post editor, reporter or producer.

Post Forum Badge

Post Forum members consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on politics, national and international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Weather Watcher Badge

Weather Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on climates and forecasts.

More about badges | Request a badge

World Watcher Badge

World Watchers consistently offer thought-provoking, timely comments on international affairs.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Contributor Badge

This commenter is a Washington Post contributor. Post contributors aren’t staff, but may write articles or columns. In some cases, contributors are sources or experts quoted in a story.

More about badges | Request a badge

Post Recommended

Washington Post reporters or editors recommend this comment or reader post.

You must be logged in to report a comment.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

All comments are posted in the All Comments tab.

More about badges

Get a badge

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.