Francis is first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years

The new pope is Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires, who takes the name Pope Francis. The announcement came on Wednesday, March 13, the first full day of the cardinals' conclave in the Sistine Chapel.

Then-Archbishop of Buenos Aires Bergoglio is seen in Vatican City in this undated photo. He's the first non-European pope in the modern era and the first South American pope.

Pope John Paul II receives Cardinal Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Vatican on February 21, 2001.

Bergoglio smiles during a news conference at the Vatican in October 2003. during celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's election.

Bergoglio is shown washing the feet of a woman on Holy Thursday at the Sarda maternity hospital in Buenos Aires in 2005.

This undated photo shows Bergoglio, who was appointed a cardinal by Pope John Paul II.

Cardinal Bergoglio, center, officiates a Holy Mass for the eternal rest of Pope John Paul II on April 5, 2005, at Buenos Aires' Metropolitan Cathedral.

Bergoglio, right, and Peru's Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne attend the special "pro eligendo summo pontifice" (to elect supreme pontiff) Mass in Vatican City in April 2005.

Pope Benedict XVI meets Bergoglio at the Vatican in January 2007.

Bergoglio delivers his homily at the church of St. Cajetan in Buenos Aires on August 7, 2009.

During a Mass against trafficking in July 12, 2010, in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio speaks.

Bergoglio says a Mass in honor of the late ex-President Nestor Carlos Kirchner on October 27, 2010, in Buenos Aires.

Bergoglio, right, draws the cross on the forehead of a parishioner during a Mass for Ash Wednesday, which begins the 40-day period of abstinence for Christians before the Holy Week and Easter, on February 13 at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires.

Bergoglio arrives for the congregation meeting at Synod Hall in the Vatican on March 7.

Bergoglio poses with school children and the emblem of Argentina's San Lorenzo football team.

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(CNN) -- Pope Francis is a first in many ways. He's the first Latin American pontiff; the first Jesuit; the first Francis -- and the first non-European in 1,272 years.

The last time someone from outside Europe led the Roman Catholic Church was the year 741.

That's when Pope Gregory III, born in Syria, ended his 10-year reign.

Before him, there were popes from Bethlehem (St. Evaristus, from 97 to 105), Jerusalem (Pope Theodore I, from 642 to 649) and modern-day Libya (Saint Victor I, from 189 to 199).

Meet Pope Francis

And, of course, the church counts Peter, disciple of Jesus from the Holy Land, as the first pope.

Several other Syrians have also served as pontiff.

The majority of popes have been Italian.

Over the centuries, the length of reign has varied widely.

Pope Pius IX reigned the longest, more than 31 years, from 1846 to 1878.

See the longest-reigning popes

The record for shortest reign goes to Pope Urban VII, who served for 13 days in 1590.

See the shortest-reigning popes