Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, is known for his conservative stances on homosexuality and contraception, but his views on poverty are considered radical by many Catholics.

The first Latin American to be made Pope, and also the first Jesuit to take the office, he is rumoured to have been runner-up to Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) in the election to succeed Pope John Paul II in 2005.

Born in Buenos Aires in December 1936, the son of a railway worker and a housewife, a childhood illness left Francis with only one lung.

At a glance: Pope Francis's views What he opposes: Firmly opposed to abortion and euthanasia.

Firmly opposed to abortion and euthanasia. Opposed Argentina's government promoting free contraception.

Opposed Argentina's government promoting free contraception. Against gay marriage, calling it a "real and dire anthropological throwback".

Against gay marriage, calling it a "real and dire anthropological throwback". But he says individuals who are homosexual should be respected, not judged.

But he says individuals who are homosexual should be respected, not judged. Opposes gay adoption, calling it discrimination against children. His causes: He is a champion of social justice.

He is a champion of social justice. Deeply concerned about social inequalities in Latin America.

Deeply concerned about social inequalities in Latin America. He says extreme poverty and economic structures which support this are violations of human rights.

He says extreme poverty and economic structures which support this are violations of human rights. He is not afraid to challenge governments and other powerful interests.

He is not afraid to challenge governments and other powerful interests. Francis, the name the new Pope has chosen, is believed to represent poverty and humility.

At the age of 76, he is only slightly younger than Benedict was when he was appointed Pope, aged 78, in 2005.

Bergoglio became a priest at 32, nearly a decade after losing a lung due to respiratory illness and quitting his chemistry studies.

Despite his late start, he was leading the local Jesuit community within four years, holding the post from 1973 to 1979.

He is seen as a champion of social justice in his home country.

He in fact gave up the opportunity to live in the Archbishop's palace in Buenos Aires and chose to live in a simple apartment and cook his own meals.

In 2001 Bergoglio was made Cardinal by the then-Pope John Paul II. In that same year he took over the Synod of Bishops, a task he carried out to much acclaim.

When he was made a cardinal in 2001 he told his followers in Argentina not to travel to Rome but instead give the money to the poor.

In a speech he gave last year, which took many in the Church aback, he accused fellow clergymen of hypocrisy for forgetting that Jesus Christ bathed with lepers and ate with prostitutes.

He criticised them for refusing to baptise the children of single mothers, praising young women he said who showed courage to carry and give birth to their baby despite their status.

Described by his biographer as a balancing force, Bergoglio has monk-like habits and has been media-shy.

"His character is in every way that of a moderate. He is absolutely capable of undertaking the necessary renovation without any leaps into the unknown. He would be a balancing force," Francesca Ambrogetti, who co-authored a biography of Bergoglio after carrying out a series of interviews with him over three years, said.

"He shares the view that the Church should have a missionary role, that gets out to meet people, that is active... a church that does not so much regulate the faith as promote and facilitate it," she added.

"His lifestyle is sober and austere. That's the way he lives. He travels on the underground, the bus, when he goes to Rome he flies economy class."

Who are the Jesuits: The Society of Jesus is a Christian order for men only.

The Society of Jesus is a Christian order for men only. Members are sometimes called "God's Marines" because they often live "on the frontiers" - in poverty-like conditions in poor countries.

Members are sometimes called "God's Marines" because they often live "on the frontiers" - in poverty-like conditions in poor countries. For this reason they have a tradition of not pursuing high office in the Church.

For this reason they have a tradition of not pursuing high office in the Church. Part of their mission is to serve, accompany, work with and advocate for the disadvantaged.

Part of their mission is to serve, accompany, work with and advocate for the disadvantaged. The order was founded in 1534 by Spanish knight Ignatius of Loyola after he was wounded in battle and experienced a religious conversion.

The order was founded in 1534 by Spanish knight Ignatius of Loyola after he was wounded in battle and experienced a religious conversion. The Jesuits are made up of about 20,000 members operating in 112 countries.

But others dispute the "moderate" tag. The new Pope has been described by some as an unwavering conservative - something that may be of concern for those hoping for reform in the Church.

He is a strong opponent of abortion, same-sex marriage and contraception.

In 2010 he asserted that gay adoption was a form of discrimination against children, earning himself a rebuke from Argentina's president at the time.

He has also denounced gay marriage as "an attempt to destroy God's plan".

It is believed he is very closely aligned to former Pope John Paul II and under a generally conservative theology. That may be something of a return to what Vatican officials felt had been a very successful dynasty.

Francis is the first non-European to become Pope since the eighth century, when Syrian-born Gregory III was pontiff.

At 76 and three months, he is the eighth-oldest pontiff at the moment of his election to accede to Peter's throne, the oldest of all being Clement X in 1670, who was nearly 80.

He is the first pope to choose an original name since John Paul I in 1978, who was the first to do so since Lando, elected in 913.

ABC/wires