Cardinal Mario Aurelio Poli, Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Buenos Aires (Argentina), was born in Buenos Aires on 29 November 1947. He completed his primary education in a state school, and secondary education in the parish school of San Pedro Apóstol. He attended the faculty of law and social sciences at the University of Buenos Aires, where he obtained the title of Licenziado en Servicio Social. At the age of 22, he entered the metropolitan seminary of Buenos Aires where he took courses in philosophy and theology and was ordained a priest on 25 November 1978, and was incardinated in Buenos Aires. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.

As a priest, he has served in the following roles: assistant priest in the parish of San Cayetano (1978-1980); superior at the major seminary (1980-1987); chaplain of Siervas del Espíritu Santo (1988-1991); ecclesiastical assistant of the Lay Association Fraternidades y Agrupaciones Santo Tomás de Aquino (1988-1992); and director of institutional vocations at "San José" (preparatory course at the Major Seminary). He has been a member of the college of consultors and the presbyteral council. Since 1980 he has taught ecclesiastical history at the faculty of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina.

On 8 February 2002, he was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and assigned the titular see of Abidda, meanwhile continuing his teaching activities. He received episcopal ordination on 20 April 2002.

On 24 June 2008 he was appointed resident bishop of the diocese of Santa Rosa.

On 28 March 2013, Pope Francesco appointed him as metropolitan archbishop of the archdiocese of Buenos Aires (Argentina).

On 4 May 2013 he was appointed Ordinary for the Catholic Faithful of the Eastern Rite resident in Argentina.

He is now first Vice-president of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina. He has been a member of the Episcopal Commission for Catholic Education and of the Episcopal Commission for Biblical Catechetical and Pastoral Care.  

He participated in the XIV General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2015.

On 26 May 2023 the Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the metropolitan archdiocese of Buenos Aires (Argentina), presented by Cardinal Poli.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 22 February 2014, of the Title of San Roberto Bellarmino.

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for the Oriental Churches; for Laity, Family and Life.