Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the first pope from the Americas. Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958 and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. After being his close collaborator, he succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino on February 28, 1998, as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. From 2004 to 2008 he was president of the Argentinean Episcopal Conference. On March 13, 2013 he was elected pope during the second day of the Conclave, on the fifth ballot. He chose the name of Francis. Born in 1942 at Merate (Lecco, Italy), he is an expert on the bible and biblical languages. Former Prefect of the Biblioteca-Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in Milan, he also taught Old Testament Exegesis at the Theological Faculty of Northern Italy. An Archbishop since 2007, he was created cardinal by Benedict XVI in 2010. He is President of the Pontifical Council for Culture and of the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology. To his name are some 150 volumes published mainly on biblical and literary topics, and in the sphere of dialogue with science. His most important publications include editions on the Psalms and the Book of Job, the Song of Songs and Ecclesiasticus.