Biografía

The first pope from the Americas and from the Southern Hemisphere. He is also the first non-European pope since Syrian-born Pope Gregory III in 741.

Has spoken out against the death penalty.

Used the word "genocide" to describe the mass killing of Armenians under Ottoman rule during World War I.

He is a polyglot, his native language is Spanish; he speaks Italian, Piedmontese, English, German, Portuguese, French, Ukrainian, and of course, Latin (the official language of the Holy See).

Named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2013.

[on the practice of relocating to other parishes those priests behaving inappropriately with children] This is stupid because the priest continues to carry the problem in his backpack.

[to the crowds thronging St. Peter's Square following his election] Now I would like to give the blessing, but first I want to ask you a favor. Before the bishop blesses the people, I ask that you would pray to the Lord to bless me - the prayer of the people for their bishop. Let us say this prayer - your prayer for me - in silence.

[on the issue of abortion] Preventing the development of a being that already has the genetic code of a human being is not ethical.

[to the cardinals who elected him the new pontiff] May God forgive you.

[as Cardinal Bergoglio, on whether demanding celibacy lies at the core of clerical sex abuse] If a priest is a pedophile, he is so before he becomes a priest.