POPE FRANCIS
Born 17 December 1936, Argentina
G'day folks,
Have you read anything about the current pope? Francis is the 266th and current Pope of the Catholic
Church, in which capacity he is Bishop of Rome and absolute Sovereign of the
Vatican City State.
Born
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis began his papacy on March 13, 2013, after
the resignation of Pope Benedict XV. He quickly became a humble champion
of the poor and a religious leader by example. He was named TIME‘s
Person of the Year for 2013. Here are 12 remarkable facts about His Holiness,
Pope Francis.
1. He has a master’s degree in chemistry
Pope
Francis has a master’s degrees in chemistry, philosophy and theology from the
University of Buenos Aries. When he was young he was employed running tests in
a chemical laboratory. Before becoming the Archbishop of Buenos Aries he was a
teacher of theology, philosophy, literature and psychology.
2. He speaks many languages
In
addition to being fluent in Spanish, Italian and German, the current pontiff
knows some English, French, Portuguese, and Piedmontese, a dialect of northwest
Italy, where his parents were from.
3. He likes The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings
According
to TolkeinBrasil, Pope Francis says JRR Tolkein is a contemporary author
worth reading and he has read his works himself. His Holiness mentioned the
author during his 2008 Easter message to Argentine teachers. He used Frodo and
Bilbo as examples of hopeful heroes who are called to walk a path in the
unfolding drama between good and evil.
4. Pope Francis is a soccer fan
The
pontiff is a supporter of San Lorenzo de Almagro Football club, a classic
football club from his home neighborhood. San Lorenzo won their first
international title in 2001, the Copa Mercosur. Having the world’s most
powerful religious authority on your team can’t hurt.
5. He loved the tango and had a girlfriend in his youth
Pope
Francis enjoyed dancing in his youth and in his group of friends there was a
girl whose company he enjoyed. This was before he discovered his religious
vocation and switched to priestly celibacy. Hearts were broken, it can be
assumed.
6. Pope Francis is not called Pope Francis I
Ecclesiastical
naming customs dictate that Pope Francis is not to be called Pope
Francis I. His Holiness will not get the affixed numeral until there is a Pope
Francis II. Pope John Paul I is an exception to this rule because he
deliberately chose to add the “I” to his title.
7. He owned a Harley-Davidson motorcycle
The
pontiff came into the possession of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle after he gave
blessings to hundreds of Harley owners and their rides in St. Peter’s Square.
He sold the bike at an auction that benefited the homeless. Always one to
eschew fancy rides, Pope Francis traded in his Mercedes-Benz “Popemobile” for a
“30-year-old Renault 4 with 186,000 miles on the clock,” Christian Post
reported. (Random fact: 186,000 is the number of miles light travels in a
vacuum per second.)
8. He flies economy class
Pope
Francis is a modest man who, while Archbishop of Buenos Aires, lived in a
simple apartment and rode the bus. He chose his papal name due to the humility
and austerity associated with St Francis of Assisi. When he was elected by the
conclave of cardinals, he flew to Rome in economy class, a remarkable fact.
9. Pope Francis once worked as a bouncer
Before he
became a Jesuit, Pope Francis worked as a bouncer in a Buenos Aries bar to help
pay for his studies. Not exactly God’s work–except for St. Peter at the Pearly
Gates, of course–but a job’s a job. In addition to being a bouncer and working
in a chemical laboratory, Pope Francis was also employed as a janitor at one
time.
10. Pope Francis is a legal citizen of three countries
His
Holiness is a citizen of Argentina and because of Italy’s jus sanguinis
legal tradition and his Italian parentage, he is an Italian citizen as well and
has an EU passport. The Holy See is recognized as a sovereign entity with the
Pope as its leader, so that makes three.
11. Pope Francis is the first non-European pope in 1200 years
The last
time a non-European pope was elected was in 731, when Gregory III of what is
now Syria became Pope.
12. Pope Francis only has one lung
Aged 21,
Jorge Mario Bergoglio had life-threatening pneumonia and a few cysts. Part of
one of his lungs was excised during the treatment.
What sort of man is he? Read this brief article, courtesy of The New Yorker.
On Wednesday, Pope Francis went into St. Peter’s Square, where a crowd
had gathered, and saw a pilgrim who has certainly been met in his life
with averted gazes, and worse. His skin was covered with hundreds,
maybe thousands, of bulbous tumors that contorted his features. Francis
embraced him, touched his face, and prayed with him. There is a picture of him kissing the man’s head,
where there is no unmarked skin and tumors push through his thin hair.
(This is the result of a disease called neurofibromatosis.) The image
was electrifying, in a way that mercy can be.
Clancy's comment: This pontif sounds like the real deal; a man who says what he means and means what he says.
Pope Francis also has a great sense of humour. Check out this video:
Today is Mother's Day in Australia. So, to all the mothers and grandmothers out there, have a top day. I hope your family spoils you rotten.
My mum is now 88. She recently lost her husband, my stepfather, after 35 years of marriage; a man I've known since I was nine months old. Mum, thanks, have a great day. I have two words of advice, especially for you.
Love ya work, Mum!
Think about this!
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