Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Who is Pope Francis? A compilation from many news reports.

Posted on 03/15/2013 8:42:46 PM PDT by dangus

I compiled this for a friend to pass on to her family, comprised of mostly fallen-away Catholics. She implored me to share it so others could pass it on.

Pope Francis is both an Italian, and from Latin America. He combines the intellectual training of the Jesuits with the soul of a Franciscan. As archbishop of Argentina's most important diocese, he could have lived in a mansion on the cathedral's grounds; instead, he lived in a flat in an apartment building miles away, sharing his home with an elderly, crippled Jesuit. He rode the busses and subways to work, dressing as an ordinary priest, and insisting he be called, "Father Jorge," rather than "Bishop Bergoglio" or, later, "Cardinal Bergoglio."

He chose the name of Francis after St. Francis of Assissi, who was so renowned for his spiritual humility, and who was commanded by Christ in a vision, "Rebuild my church."

On reluctantly becoming pope, he packed his own bags, paid for his own room, refused the pope-mobile (created to keep John Paul II safe from snipers), and took the bus with the rest of the cardinals. He would refused to war the papal crown or robe. Before blessing the crowd, he pled, "My brothers and sisters, pray for me." The next morning, he snuck out to pray in one of the parish churches of Rome to pray.

As a child, his father worked building the railroad. At 12, Jorge asked his girlfriend's hand in marriage when they were old enough. As a teenager, he suffered a bad infection, and lost one of his lungs. He earned a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering before deciding to join the Jesuits in 1958.

While still in priestly formation, he taught lit and psych in a high school and then college. Only ordained in 1967, by 1969 he was novice master, and professor of theology. In just four more years, he was appointed Provincial (head of Jesuits) in Argentina.

After a 1976 military coup, he condemned extremists and killers on both sides, but the anti-clerical left had continually accused him of aligning himself with the right because he had ordered his priests not to abandon their parishes to fight among the communists.

In 1992, he was appointed bishop, an unusual move for a member of religious order. (It's rather like a union boss taking a job with management.). IN 1998, he was made archbishop of Buenos Aires AND bishop of Eastern-rite Catholics in Argentina.

In 2005, he reported finished 2nd to Benedict XVI in the papal election. His chances were hurt when he was falsely accused of being an accomplice to the rightist governments' kidnapping of two Jesuits. In fact, he risked his safely to secretly meet to secure their release. He also used the seminary to protect victims of the Junta.

He spends countless hours in AIDS clinics and among the homeless, famously washing their feet during Holy Thursday masses, and made appeals to citizens of all political stripes to eschew materialism. He forcefully upholds Christian moral teachings, but despises hypocrisy; For instance: "In our ecclesiastical region there are priests who don’t baptize the children of single mothers because they weren’t conceived in the sanctity of marriage. These are today’s hypocrites… Those who separate the people of God from salvation. And this poor girl who, rather than returning the child to sender, had the courage to carry it into the world, must wander from parish to parish so that it’s baptized!"

He is no statist or leftist, however. During the economic crisis, he preached, "the challenge to eradicate poverty can not be truthfully met as long as the poor continue to be dependents of the State. The government and other organizations should instead work to create the social conditions that will promote and protect the rights of the poor and enable them to be the builders of their own future, he explained."


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; History
KEYWORDS: conclave; popefrancis; romancatholicism

1 posted on 03/15/2013 8:42:46 PM PDT by dangus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: dangus

Good of you to compose this for your friend. I hope some of her family members (heck, ALL of them!) return to the Church.


2 posted on 03/15/2013 9:17:23 PM PDT by mlizzy (If people spent an hour a week in Eucharistic adoration, abortion would be ended. --Mother Teresa)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangus

This writeup is like Pope Francis never heard of St Francis of Xavier. Just a review of the record and life of St. Xavier will show he was a Jesuit (helped found the Order) and after European service, including I think sojourn to the Vatican, lived a life of pastoral shepherding of poor and those in need very much like Pope Francis in the Southern Hemisphere. I suspect that the Catholic church in the Southern Hemisphere to which St. Francis Xavier was a prominent if not dominant member of was very well known about by Pope Francis who was of the Southern Hemisphere Jesuit order. Whether either St Francis of Assisi or St Francis of Xavier were more influential in the work/life of Pope Francis is a question in my mind.


3 posted on 03/15/2013 9:57:57 PM PDT by noinfringers2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: noinfringers2

According to Vatican deputy English-language spokesman Thomas Rosica, Pope Francis chose the name after St. Francis of Assissi.


4 posted on 03/15/2013 10:19:39 PM PDT by dangus (Poverty cannot be eradicated as long as the poor remain dependent on the state - Pope Francis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dangus

I am not Catholic but the more I learn of this man the more I like him.


5 posted on 03/16/2013 7:19:26 AM PDT by Patriot365
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dangus
Who is Pope Francis? A compilation from many news reports.
"Anyone who does not pray to the Lord prays to the devil." Homily of the Holy Father Pope Francis
Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi will represent the United States at Pope Francis’ Inaugural Mass
Beijing Cautions New Pope on Meddling in China,/a>
For the First Time Since the Great Schism, Ecumenical Patriarch to Attend Pope's Inaugural Mass
Ann Barnhardt on Pope Francis
New Pope snubs Cardinal Law
Pope Francis seen as humble man who can unite, rebuild Church

Pope Francis – the real deal – has Audience with Cardinals
Pope Francis—The Journey Begins
Report: Pope Francis bans disgraced Cardinal Law from his church
Pope tells cardinals: discover new ways to evangelize
Does this pope sound like a liberal to YOU?
Pope Francis could renew Catholicism in Americas, says Knights' chief
Letter #47: To Mary (Pope Francis prays at (tomb of Pope St. Pius V) [Catholic Caucus]
Pope To cardinals: Don't Give In To Devil's "Bitterness" And "Pessimism"
Pope Pays His Hotel Bill
Newly elected Pope knows Ukrainian Catholic Church, its Liturgy & Spirituality (Ecumenical)
'Go and Repair My House'
Why Did Pope Francis Go to St Mary Major?
Argentine priest kidnapped in Dirty War reconciled w/ Pope Francis (Don't blame Pope for Pinochet)
Weigel: "Bergoglio is an Old-School Jesuit, Formed by Classic Ignatian Spirituality..."
Vatican Responds to Accusations About Cardinal Bergoglio and the "Dirty War"
Pope Francis Knows What Must Be Done
Pope Francis tied up in Argentina's 'dirty war' debate
Pope Francis and the Traditional Liturgy
Links of Pope Francis to military dictatorship
Cardinal Bergoglio wrote to Fr. Gruner about Fatima [Catholic Caucus]

Why Pope Francis May Be a Catholic Nightmare [barf alert]
Pope Francis I: It’s All In the Name
Vatican official: Gay marriage a “revolutionary project” for “complete destruction of the family”
Pope Francis, and Blessed Aloysius and Blessed Agnellus: how the saints chose Bergoglio for pope
The Future Pope Francis: Additional Interviews and Writings
Pope Francis – What’s in a Name?
Pope Francis Warns Church Could Become 'Compassionate NGO'
Jesuits Surprised that First of Their Brethren is Elected Pope
World Jewish Congress head praises Pope Francis (Jewish-Catholic ties "best in 2,000 years")
How Summorum Pontificum was blocked and trampled on in Buenos Aires
Slaves of the Immac. Heart of Mary Profess Our Filial Submission to Pope Francis (Catholic Caucus)
Gay Advocacy Groups Rush to Demonize Pope Francis
Traditionalists and Pope Francis: Can We Take a Deep Breath and Please Calm Down?
What I would have said at the Consistory: An interview with Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Pope Francis Offers His Second Blessing to Pregnant Mom, Unborn Baby
Cdl. Bergoglio's Lenten Letter, 2013
UPDATE: Rorate Caeli’s diatribe against Pope Francis [Catholic Caucus]
Pope Francis: A Disappointment for Catholics Who Don't Like Being Catholic
Updates on Pope Francis’ first day as Pope – Great moments! (truly humble man)
New Pope Slips Out Of Vatican For morning Prayer Visit

Our First American Pope
Pope Francis I clear on denying Communion to those who facilitate in abortion
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Profession: Servant of the Servants of God
EDITORIAL:Pope Francis I bridges conservative and progressive currents
New Pope Francis called homosexual ‘marriage’ a ‘machination of the Father of Lies’
Pope Francis Is First Catholic Pontiff From The Americas; He Is Known As A Humble Intellectual
New Pope lived simple life in Argentina
"Lowly, And Yet Chosen," Enter Pope Francis (some phenomenal firsts with this election)
10 Facts about Pope Francis
Vatican Web Site Updated
Full Text of Pope Francis’ Opening Address to Catholic Faithful
9 things you should know about Pope Francis
Pope Francis I promises to be strong pro-life world leader
New Pope celebrated Hanukkah as well as Christmas
New Pope- enemy of Catholic tradition
As Cardinal, Pope Francis condemned abortion even in rape cases
Profile: New pope, Jesuit Bergoglio, was runner-up in 2005 conclave
Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected pope, takes Francis as name
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio: a Profile
HABEMUS PAPAM!!! (Live Thread)

6 posted on 03/21/2013 7:04:06 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson