Pope Francis: Jorge Mario Bergoglio

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VATICAN CITY, March 13 (UPI) -- Jorge Mario Bergoglio, selected Wednesday as the successor to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, was archbishop of Buenos Aires before his elevation to pope.

Bergoglio took the name Francis for his papacy. He is the first Jesuit selected pope, the first pope from the Americas and the first pope in 1,000 years from outside Europe.

Bergoglio, who was educated at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel and taught theology at the school, was ordained for the Jesuits Dec. 13, 1969, a biography posted by the Vatican said. He became a cardinal in 2001.

Bergoglio was born Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, the son of Italian immigrants and was trained as a chemist.

He spent much of his career working with the poor and has encouraged both the clergy and the faithful to oppose abortion and euthanasia, but supports the use of contraception to prevent the spread of disease.

Bergoglio has supported respectful treatment of homosexuals but opposed Argentine government efforts to legalize gay marriage and opposes allowing gays to adopt, Wikipedia says.