Roman Catholic Cardinals at the Papal Conclave have chosen a new Pope.  The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has taken the name “Francis”.  
Not only is he the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere and South America, but he is also the first Pope in 2,000 years to take the name “Francis”. 

Bergoglio was seen as the first runner-up in the last Papal Conclave in 2005 that chose Benedict XVI, now the retired “Pontiff Emeritus”.

He takes the helm at a time of much upheaval in the Vatican, particularly in the Vatican bank with accusations of financial misdealing, the continuing fallout from the clergy sex abuse scandals, and the clouds surrounding the unprecedented resignation of Benedict.

Pope Francis has been criticized for being too close to Argentinean military leaders involved in the “Dirty War”.  He opposes gay marriage rights and adoption by LGBT parents.

He has preached a message of compassion towards the poor, but has been criticized for failing to endorse specific social programs to actually help them.

He is not said to be particularly well traveled as has only granted a handful of interviews since being appointed Cardinal by then-Pope John Paul II in 2001.

On the plus side, he’s pretty unpretentious.  As Cardinal of Buenos Aires, he gave up a Limo in favor of Public Transportation, lives in a small apartment instead of a mansion, and cooked his own meals.