Pope Francis is one of the most well-known figures in the world. He is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. His original name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. In March 2013, he was elected the 266th pope. He took his papal title after St. Francis of Assisi of Italy. Saint Francis lived a life of humble service to the poor. Also known as Francis I, he is the first pope from the Americas and also the first Jesuit to be elected as Pope.
Early Life: –
He was born in Bueno Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. His parents were Italian immigrants to Argentina. He studied to become a chemical technician. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958 and earned licentiate in philosophy in Buenos Aires province. It is equivalent to a master’s degree.
Quick Facts: –
- Pope Francis was a big fan of popular dance form tango during his pre-priest days.
- He also worked briefly in the food-processing industry but left when he felt a calling to the church.
- He taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé in 1964 and 1965.
- Before becoming a Jesuit, he worked as a bouncer in a Bueno Aries bar so that he could pay for his studies.
- In December 1969, he was appointed as a priest and started serving as Jesuit provincial of Argentina in 1973.
- In 1992 he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires.
- He also served as archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 before being elected as pope.
- During this time, he used to wash the feet of people in jails, hospital and the poor on Holy Thursday
- In 2013, Francis I was named as ‘Person of the Year’ by Time Magazine.
- He is so simple in his values that when he got elected as the pope, he flew to Rome in economy class.
- He is multilingual as he can speak Spanish, Latin, and Italian fluently and understand Ukrainian, English, German, and Portuguese.
- In 2005, he was a runner up for the position of pope when Pope Benedict XVI won.
- He had to have a lung removed due to an infection during his teenage. Although it is not affecting his current health.
- Pope Francis has his own emojis which are also known as Popemojis.
- Unlike previous popes, he lives in a small guest house in the Vatican instead of an apartment.
- He celebrated his first Holy Thursday Mass in a youth prison in Rome and kept it private by not allowing media to attend.
- In February 2019 he became the first pope ever to visit the Arabian Peninsula which is the birthplace of Islam.
- This trip of the pope to the Arabian Peninsula was to promote religious fraternity and peace.
- He doesn’t wear the red shoes made specifically for him. He wears his usual black shoes from his native country Argentina.
Question & Answers: –
Ques. When was he named president of the Bishops’ Conference of Argentina?
Ans. In 2005
Ques. Does he support unbridled capitalism, Marxism, or Marxist versions of liberation theology?
Ans. No, he doesn’t.
Ques. Pope Francis supports which football club?
Ans. San Lorenzo de Almagro Football Club
Ques. How many countries’ citizenship has he?
Ans. He is a legal citizen of three different countries Argentina, Italy and the Vatican.
Ques. Has any other pope in the Catholic history had the name Francis?
Ans. No.
Ques. Why did he choose this papal name?
Ans. He took his papal name after St. Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis really lives up to his reputation.
Ques. When was he named as Time’s ‘Person of the Year’?
Ans. In 2013, the same year he was elected as Pope.
Ques. Which is the Pope’s favorite painting?
Ans. The White Crucifixion by Marc Chagall is his favorite painting. The painting shows Jesus being crucified on the cross, wrapped in a prayer shawl symbolizing that he is Jewish.
Ques. When was he ordained a cardinal by Pope John Paul II?
Ans. In 2001
Ques. When did the pope visit Cuba for the first time?
Ans. On September 19, 2015
Ques. What was the first encyclical of his papacy and when was it published?
Ans. Laudato si was the first encyclical of his papacy and it got published in June 2015.
Ques. When did his second exhortation come?
Ans. The second encyclical was Amoris laetitia which came out in April 2016.
Ques. When did the pope revise the catechism of the Catholic Church to fully reject the death penalty?
Ans. In August 2018
