The Diocese of Grand Rapids marked the ninth anniversary of Pope Francis' election by posting a commemorative message on Facebook.

"On this day nine years ago, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope," the diocese said in the March 13 post. "Happy Anniversary, Pope Francis! Feliz Anniversario, Papa Francisco!"

In marking the day, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offered a prayer on its website for continued strong leadership from the Vatican:

"O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

Pope Francis, a native of Argentina, is the first pope in the history of the Church from the Americas, a release on the Vatican's website said. He was born to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires in 1936. In 1969, he was ordained a priest, and in 1973 he became Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina. 

In 1992, he was appointed as the titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. Five years later, he was elevated to the position of Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires; and shortly thereafter he became Archbishop, Primate of Argentina and Ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina. 

When Pope John Paul II made him a Cardinal in 2001, Francis asked that rather than traveling to Rome to celebrate, Catholics donate the money they would have spent on the trip to the poor instead.

"He was elected Supreme Pontiff on 13 March 2013," the Vatican release said. 

The College of Cardinals is responsible for electing a new pope after a pope resigns or passes away, a release on the USCCB website said. The cardinals convene at the Vatican and discuss the state of the global Church. Then, 120 cardinals under the age of 80 participate in a conclave, where the participating ones vote by secret ballot. 

"Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote," the USCCB release said. When a new pope accepts his election, the ballots are then burned with chemicals to produce a white smoke, which signals to the world that a new pope has been selected.