Photo taken by Associated Press
Pope Francis, 75, formerly Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was a surprise election as the first non-European cardinal in over 1,200 years chosen to lead the 1.2bn strong Catholic faith.
Differing from the work of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, 85, who resigned in February due to health issues; Francis has said: “Don’t forget the poor.”
Before travelling to Rome to take part in the conclave, Francis persuaded his friends to not travel with him, but to give the money they would have spent travelling to the poor. Leading a silent prayer from a Vatican balcony on March 13, Francis not only blessed the crowd, but asked them to pray for him.
He said: “I’d ask you to pray to God so that he can bless me,” as the crowd fell silent.
It’s estimated that well over 100,000 people were in St. Peters Square as the white smoke, indicating a new pope had been chosen, rose from the chimney of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
As a man who appears in touch with modern society, Francis invited the worlds press to an informal speech, spoken somewhat off the cuff, on March 16, only days after his election. He has acknowledged and is open to discussion with other faiths, journalists and the tourists who flock daily to the Vatican.
As the 266th Bishop of Rome, Francis lived a very different life to that of a pope in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Reportedly using public transport regularly, Francis also lived alone in a small apartment exercising an independently livelihood.
Now living in Vatican City, the world’s smallest country, His Holiness will no doubt be surrounded by all manners of helpers and security at all times. Francis will have a lot of work within in church after inheriting the papacy from Benedict.
During Benedict’s time in office, the Catholic Church has struggled with things such as the global sex abuse scandal, Vatileaks, economic issues and a church government in serious need of reform. Trisha Hershberger, host of the award winning web-series Sourcefed, said: “I do not envy this man’s challenges ahead, but I do look forward to see what his papacy will bring to the world.”
As a cardinal, Francis has shown a positive outlook to contraception to prevent the spread of disease, one of the first to do so in a faith that heavily opposes all contraception. Despite his more progressive views, he is still against gay marriage, a topic that has seen global progress both legally and socially over the past 10 years.
Heads of State from around the world have welcomed Francis with open arms and the media will be intently watching as he settles into his new life.
