Jorge Mario Bergoglio Elected Pope Francis I

He was probably one of the least expected to be elected, but today Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis I. 

A crowded St. Peter's square waiting for the Pope

Succeeding Joseph Ratzinger, Bergoglio becomes the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. Archbishop of Buenos Aires since 1998, he belongs to the order of the 'Society of Jesus' and he is the first Church leader ever chosen from South America.

Despite his South-American archbishopric, he has Italian origins. In fact, his roots are planted in the Piedmont region in Bricco Marmorito di Portacomaro Stazione, a small city close to Asti. Here his great grand-father was born and had six children, including Bergoglio's grand-father, who left the small town and moved to Turin. In Piedmont state's capital the future pope's father Mario was born. Mario Jose Bergoglio, a railway officer, later married Regina Sivori, a half Piedmontese and half Genoese housewife. The couple moved to Argentina where Jorge was born. 
 

His election to papacy seems to be a sort of destiny. In the past conclave, back in 2005, he appeared to be the most favored after Joseph Ratzinger and, basing on some reconstructions, he felt the grave of the responsibility to succeed Wojtyła and convinced other cardinals not to vote for him. If this was true, this conclave may have been the natural consequence of the last one, electing a Pope that already seemed the only one who could follow Ratzinger. 
 

With this election, South America is in the spot light more than ever. The same South America which Cardinal Bergoglio constantly warned of the modern forms of slavery and exploitation, focusing on the new immigrants. 
 

The Church, in a moment of critique and rumors about its expenses, made a precise choice electing someone who has always denied prosperity and wastefulness, opting for public transportations and a modest living. Maybe this is one of the reasons why he picked 'Francis' as his papal name, maybe recalling Francis of Assisi. 
 

This election also has a dark side, evoking  shadows from his past addressing possible connections with the Argentine dictate, during which 30.000 people got kidnapped and/or killed. Statements that still do not find solid confirmation. 
 

The new Pope starts his endeavor with the special message from President Obama who stated: "As the first Pope coming from the Americas, his election is a tribute to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping the world and, along with millions of Hispanic Americans in the United States, share the joy for this historic day." 
 

During his first speech as Pope Francis I, Bergoglio asked the crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square to "Pray to the Lord so that he blesses me" before delivering his benediction to the mass of his followers.