Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI and becoming Pope Francis (after St. Francis of the Assisi of Italy). Since his elevation to the pinacle station of the church, he has proven to be a widely progressive and modest figure.
He is the first pope to come from the Americas, having been born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, and is the first Jesuit pope. Entering the church and ordained as a priest in December of 1969, his mother at first did not support his decision to enter the priesthood but eventually accepted it, though she herself was a devout Catholic. He served as both an archbishop and cardinal for more than 12 years and is a former nightclub bouncer, janitor, and chemical technician.
Admired worldwide, the 78-year-old has broken the conventions of papacy that have been held for centuries, speaking out in support of the minorities, the poor, and the marginalized people. Unlike previous popes, he has shown a more accepting attitude toward homosexuality, saying, "Who am I to judge them if they're seeking the Lord in good faith?"
In his first-ever visit to the United States in 2015, Pope Francis met with and hugged an openly gay couple after the media erupted over his meeting with Kim Davis, a notorious anit-gay supporter, which, according to cnn.com had "the Vatican scrambling to issues statements that [sought] to de-politicize the Pope's meetings and agenda."
Along with his gentle attitude toward homosexuality, he has also acknowledged some scientific issues as well, such as the support of the the Big Bang theory and evolution. According to The Independent newspaper, Pope Francis said that "the Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it."
Contradicting past popes, he does not sleep in the lavish apartments in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, instead favoring a two-room accommodation, living simply and unadorned. He was named Person of the Year in 2013 by Time magazine,being nicknamed "The People's Pope," and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014.
Pope Francis, in his many endeavors toward advocacy and acceptance of those normally condemned by the church, is viewed widely as a true pope of the people: eccentric, unconventional, and a real pope of the 21st century.
