The 68-year-old cardinal, elected Tuesday, succeeds Archbishop Eduardo Mirás of Rosario, who retired after his 75th birthday.
Cardinal Bergoglio was one of the prelates chosen by the Synod of Bishops of the Eucharist to be a member of the council that will assist Benedict XVI in the writing of the postsynodal apostolic exhortation.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires. He was ordained for the Jesuits in December 1969 during his theological studies at the Theological Faculty of San Miguel.
In May 1992 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. In June 1997 he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires and succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino in February 1998. He is also the ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who lack an ordinary of their own rite.
He was elevated to cardinal in February 2001.
