Pope Francis, Latin Franciscus, original name Jorge Mario Bergoglio (born 17 December 1936, Buenos Aires, Argentina), is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the Bishop of Rome. He was elected on 13 March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He is the first Jesuit to take the role, the first Latin American Pope, and the first Pope born outside Europe since the death of Syrian Gregory III in 741.