Bergoglio was born on Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants. His father was a railroad worker and his mother was a homemaker. He lost a lung to an infection when he was in his early 20s and to this day he speaks in a soft voice. He initially studied chemical engineering but later entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained in 1969. In the seminary he taught literature, psychology and philosophy and soon took over as head of the Jesuit order in Argentina. By the 1980s, many Jesuits were gravitating toward liberation theology, which holds that religious faith is expressed through helping the poor and by working for political and social change. But Bergoglio believed Jesuits should stick to their traditional roles as parish leaders and chaplains and steer clear of community activism.
A Jesuit immersed in liberation theology from Argentina... what could possibly go wrong?
The cardinals must be kicking themselves now realizing what they have done.
The cardinals know exactly what they did....