One of the world's largest and most influential Roman Catholic religious orders elected a new leader on Friday.

The Jesuits, who count Pope Francis as a member, elected 67-year-old Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, from Venezuela.

After the election of Argentine Pope Francis as history's first Latin American pontiff in 2013, Sosa's election serves as another indication that the leadership of the 1.2 billion member Catholic Church is becoming less Euro-centric.

More than 200 Jesuit representatives from around the world elected Sosa the 31st superior general of the Society of Jesus, the order of priests and brothers founded by St Ignatius of Loyola in 1540. He is their first leader from Latin America.

The Jesuits, who have about 17,000 members, are renowned for their role in education, running some of the world's most prestigious universities such as Georgetown in the US.

They also are very active in human rights issues and social work. The Jesuit Refugee Service, which helps migrants and asylum seekers, operates in 50 countries.

Their leader wears the same clothes as a regular priest – simple, black vestments which have led to the coining of the title "Black Pope".

Until recently, the Jesuit leader has traditionally ruled for life, but the last two both retired aged 80. Sosa succeeds Adolfo Nicolas of Spain.

According to the Catholic News Agency, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1966 and was ordained into the priesthood 11 years later. He was General Counselor of the Society between 2004 and 2011 and has degrees in theology, political science and philosophy.

Crux reports that he is believed to be the first head of the Jesuits to have a moustache.

Additional reporting by Reuters.