| | The Pope's ecclesiastical jury is called the [[Holy See]]. Since 1059 The Pope has always been chosen by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meeting in secret. When they have not reached a decision they burn the ballots and black smoke emerges; when a pope is chosen the smoke is white. | | The Pope's ecclesiastical jury is called the [[Holy See]]. Since 1059 The Pope has always been chosen by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church meeting in secret. When they have not reached a decision they burn the ballots and black smoke emerges; when a pope is chosen the smoke is white. |
| − | [[Image:XVI.jpg|right|[[Pope Benedict XVI|His Holiness Benedict XVI]]|thumb]] | + | [[File:Card. Jorge Bergoglio SJ, 2008.jpg|right|200px|thumb|His Holiness, Pope Francis.]] |
| | Today the Pope is [[Pope Francis]], (formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) who became the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, elected as 266th Roman Catholic pontiff, is the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope; First non-European pope in 1300 years. He succeeded [[Pope Benedict XVI]], to whom he was reportedly the runner-up in the papal election of 2005.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-bergoglio-idUSBRE92C15X20130313</ref> | | Today the Pope is [[Pope Francis]], (formerly Jorge Mario Bergoglio, born December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) who became the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. Pope Francis, elected as 266th Roman Catholic pontiff, is the first Jesuit and the first Latin American pope; First non-European pope in 1300 years. He succeeded [[Pope Benedict XVI]], to whom he was reportedly the runner-up in the papal election of 2005.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-pope-succession-bergoglio-idUSBRE92C15X20130313</ref> |