At the consistory of 21 February 2001 , Archbishop Bergoglio was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II with the title of cardinal priest of San Roberto Bellarmino , a church served by Jesuits and named for one ; he was formally installed in that church the following 14 October . When he traveled to Rome for the ceremony , he and his sister María Elena visited the village in northern Italy where their father was born . As cardinal , Bergoglio was appointed to five administrative positions in the Roman Curia . He was a member of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments , the Congregation for the Clergy , the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life , the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Commission for Latin America . Later that year , when Cardinal Edward Egan returned to New York following the September 11 attacks , Bergoglio replaced him as relator ( recording secretary ) in the Synod of Bishops , and , according to the '' Catholic Herald '' , created " a favourable impression as a man open to communion and dialogue "
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Pope Francis