Catholicism's newest pontiff will hold his first mass, a private one with the cardinals who elected him, after being named the latest in a long line of popes yesterday.

Jorge Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis, spent a short time praying in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore today before preparing for his first mass as head of the Catholic church.

He is the first pope to be named Francis as well as the first Jesuit to be named to the seat. He is the first pope to be elected from the Americas as well, and only the second to not be a native of Europe. Pope Gregory III was the first in the 8th century. That first pope, from Syria, reigned for ten years.

Pope Francis chose the name during the conclave, saying, “I choose the name Francis, in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi” according to a participant to the secret proceedings, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Vatican Deputy spokesman Thomas Rosica said that like the original Francis, this pope is a lover of the poor.

Although committed to social issues and a humble man, he is criticized for his tough stance on same-sex marriage and abortion. He has also been criticized for his silence over the atocities committed by the Argentinian military during the period of 1976 to 1983.

Bergoglio, when he was the superior in the Society of Jesus of Argentina, was accused of involvement in the kidnapping of two Jesuit priests in 1976. The two were abducted after “Bergoglio withdrew his order’s protection of the two men after they refused to quit visiting the slums, which ultimately paved the way for their capture.” according to a book written by priest Orlando Yorio, one of the abductees.

The 77-year-old Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and is the son of Italian immigrants to that country. Gregory was ordained as a priest in 1969. He would wait almost thirty years before being elevated to Archbishop, and three more before becoming a cardinal.

President Obama extended his best wishes to the new pope. Vice President Biden, a devout Catholic, will lead the U.S. delegation to the pope’s inauguration mass next Tuesday.