Pope Francis: From Buenos Aires priest to leader of 1.3 billion - in pictures

As Jorge Maria Bergoglio rose through the Catholic church hierarchy he remained committed to keeping a low profile in the Argentine capital

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Born in Buenos Aires on December 17 1936, Jorge Maria Bergoglio was raised by Italian immigrant parents.

The eldest of five siblings, he was the epitome of the young Argentine man: Light-hearted, charming and an avid fan of football and Tango.

On December 13 1969, just shy of turning 33, he was ordained as a Jesuit priest. He served as an auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires between 1992 and 1997 before being appointed the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.

In 2001 he was made cardinal by the late Pope John Paull II. Despite his status, Carinal Bergoglio continued to reside in a small apartment instead of the elegant suburb home he was offered.

For years, he remained committed to keeping a low-profile in order to continue taking the subway and the bus around Buenos Aires.

He was elected the 266th Pope on March 13, 2013, replacing the abdicating Benedict XVI.

Take a look at Pope Francis's life in pictures in the gallery above.