100 Lire Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI

Habemus Papam! The world welcomes the new pope! On 13th March 2013, at 7:07 pm, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Millions of believers from all over the world joyfully welcomed the new pope.

Surprisingly for many, “Jorge Mario Bergoglio”, former Archbishop of Buenos Aires, was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis is the first South American to the Holy See.

He is the first Jesuit who was elected Bishop of Rome. Furthermore, he was the first Pontifex Maximus since 913 to choose a papal name that had not been used by a predecessor.

This impressive and elaborately colored coin from Vatican City is showing the double portrait of modest and likable Pope Francis and his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.