Who Is the New Pope
As of the latest consistory, the new pope is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, elected on 13 March 2013. He is the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pope from Latin America. This profile summarizes his identity, background, and key relationships to address the question “who is the new pope related to” with clarity and verified detail.
Election and Basic Background
Election Timeline and Predecessor
Pope Francis was elected during the 2013 papal conclave that followed the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013. The conclave began on 12 March and elected Bergoglio on its fifth ballot. His election marked the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years and the first Jesuit pope.
Birth Name and Early Life
Before election, the new pope’s given name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December 1936 to Italian immigrant parents. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1969. He served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 until his election as pope.
Relatives and Family Connections
The question “who is the new pope related to” commonly refers to immediate family. Pope Francis is the eldest of five children born to Mario José Bergoglio (1908–2013) and Regina María Sívori (1911–2000). His siblings include:
- Omar Bergoglio (born 1938), a businessman.
- Marta Bergoglio (born 1940), who married and resides in Argentina.
- Rosa Elena Bergoglio (born 1943), who never married and lives in Argentina.
- Carlos Fernando Bergoglio (born 1945), a longtime family friend and business associate who was adopted into the household after the early death of his own mother; he is not a blood sibling.
Immediate Family at Time of Election
At the time of his election in 2013, Pope Francis’s parents were deceased. His only known surviving blood relative was his sister Marta, who lived in Buenos Aires and was noted for her private life away from the public spotlight. He maintained close contact with family in Argentina throughout his ministry.
Key Relationships and Roles
Beyond blood relatives, the new pope’s relationships include mentors, collaborators, and institutions that shaped his ministry. Important connections include:
Jesuit Formation and Superiors
Bergoglio’s identity as a Jesuit involved lifelong formation bonds with rectors and provincial superiors. Notable figures from his Jesuit life include Father Franz Jalics, who mentored him during his novitiate, and Father Antonio Durán, his first Jesuit provincial superior. Jalics later reconciled with Bergoglio after earlier tensions during the Argentine dictatorship.
Collaborators in Buenos Aires
As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio worked closely with auxiliary bishops, priests, and lay leaders. Some key collaborators included Bishop (later Cardinal) Mario José Cargnello, who served alongside him, and seminarians from the Conciliar Seminary of San Nicolás. His reformist approach in Buenos Aires established relationships with social service networks and ecumenical partners.
Global Diplomatic and Ecumenical Relationships
As pope, Francis has developed relationships with global institutions, other Christian communions, and religious leaders. While the question “who is the new pope related to” usually refers to family, understanding these broader relationships helps contextualize his influence and continuity within the Church.
Official Positions and Timeline
The table below summarizes key verified dates and roles relevant to the new pope’s identity and relationships.
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 17 December 1936 | Birth as Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina | Establishes origin and family context |
| 1958 | Entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) | Begins religious formation and lifelong institutional relationships |
| 13 March 2013 | Elected pope (266th), takes name Pope Francis | Identifies who is the new pope and the start of his pontificate |
| 2013–2025 | Serves as Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church | Current role; all relationships and decisions are framed within this ministry |
Clarifying Common Misunderstandings
Some may assume the new pope is related to previous popes by blood or direct institutional lineage. This is not the case. The papacy is a non-hereditary office; relationships are primarily spiritual and canonical. Francis chose his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, signaling a pastoral focus on poverty, peace, and care for creation rather than dynastic continuity.
Status and Current Relevance
Pope Francis remains the incumbent pope as of 2025 and continues to shape Catholic teaching and practice through encyclicals, apostolic exhortations, and international travel. His relationships—both familial and institutional—continue to influence the Church’s approach to social justice, dialogue, and reform.
Summary
To answer “who is the new pope related to”: the new pope is Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio). He is related by blood to his siblings—Omar, Marta, and Rosa Elena Bergoglio—and to his parents, Mario José Bergoglio and Regina María Sívori, now deceased. He also maintains lifelong Jesuit relationships and wide ecclesial and diplomatic connections as pope. His papacy is defined not by dynastic ties but by mission, service, and reform.
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pope, jesuit, family, biography