The People's Pope

Pope Francis identifies himself with the people, and the people identify with him. He was born of simple parents - a railways worker and a plain housewife. He studied in a technical school and traveled by public transportation. Even as bishop and cardinal he traveled by public transportation, lived in a small apartment, and cooked his own meals.

When still Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Mario Bergoglio used to celebrate the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday in jails, hospitals, or with poor people. He continued this custom after becoming Pope, when he washed the feet of twelve young inmates in Rome, including two women - one of them was a Serbian Muslim. The papal election did not change his frugality and humility: he retained the iron pectoral cross, kept the old black shoes, and preferred to live at the Vatican guest house, rather than in the Apostolic Palace, to be able to live in community with his fellow priests and bishops. Pope Francis is giving security tasked to protect him lots of headaches, since he unpredictably steps down from the open car to hug sick people and to kiss children. When asked about his simple lifestyle, the Pope answered: "My people are poor and I am one of them."

Jorge Mario Bergoglio's Early Life

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Flores, a barrio of Buenos Aires, on December 17, 1936. He was the eldest of five children, and the only surviving sibling is Maria Elena. His father, Mario Jose Bergoglio, was an Italian immigrant from Portacomaro, in the Province of Asti, and worked as an accountant in the railways. He left Italy to escape the fascist dictatorship of Benito Mussolini - a quest for freedom and justice that he imparted to his children. His mother, Regina Maria Sivori, was born in Buenos Aires to a family of Italian origins.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio has been a football enthusiast since childhood, and a fan of Tango dancing and of Milonga, the traditional music of Argentina and Uruguay. He attended the elementary at the Salesian school in Ramos Mejia, and the technical secondary school at the Escuela Nacional de Educacion Tecnica.

Having graduated with honors in Chemistry, he worked for a few years as a chemical technician in a foods laboratory. He was ready to start his career and to become a family man, but God had a different plans for him; as the saying goes: "Man proposes but God disposes."

His Vocation Story

On September 21, 1953 - Feast of Saint Matthew, after going to Confession, Jorge Mario Bergoglio felt the calling for the priesthood, and entered the Archdiocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires. One time, he was so attracted by a girl he met at his uncle's wedding that he had to rethink his vocation. But in time the fascination faded away. He also suffered from pneumonia, and a part of his right lung was removed.

In 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus, and two years later he made the first religious profession. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the San Miguel Seminary of Buenos Aires, taking time also to teach literature and psychology in two colleges. On December 13, 1969, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano.

The next three years, he served as theology professor and then Master of Novices; alongside, he visited Spain to complete his formation. In time, he became Provincial Superior of the Jesuits ( 1973 to 1979 ) and rector of his alma mater ( 1980 to 1986 ) Afterwards, he went to Germany to complete his doctorate in Theology in Freiburg.

Episcopal Consecration

In 1992, Reverend Father Bergoglio was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop, and six years later he succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino as Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He worked tirelessly to create new parishes and to increase the Church's presence in the shanties. In 1998, Archbishop Bergoglio was appointed also Ordinary for the Eastern Catholics in Argentina, who lacked a prelate of their own rite. He understood perfectly their liturgy and spirituality, and took care of them with the same zeal that he did for the Latin Catholics.

From 2005 to 2011, while serving as president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference, he issued a collective apology for the Church's omissions in protecting the people during the Dirty War ( 1968 to 1980 ) during which thousands of suspected Communists were tortured and killed by the Military Junta. On December 17, 2011, having turned 75, Bergoglio submitted his resignation as Archbishop of Buenos Aires to Pope Benedict XVI, as required by Canon Law. He prepared himself for a well-deserved retirement, but little he suspected that the real action was still to come.

Cardinal Bergoglio

In 2001, Archbishop Bergoglio was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. For the occasion, he visited the birthplace of his father in Portacomaro.

He was appointed to several positions in the Roman Curia, and became known for his personal humility, spirit of communion, and commitment to social justice.

A simple lifestyle contributed to his reputation for holiness. He lived in a small apartment, rather than in the elegant bishop's residence, took public transportation instead of using a chauffeur limousine, and cooked his own meals.

In 2005, at the Conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Bergoglio was considered one of the papabili, or front-runner candidates. According to some Italian magazines, he was in close contention with Ratzinger during the election, until he made an emotional plea that the Cardinals should not vote for him. On the fourth ballot, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as the 265th Pope, and took the name of Benedict XVI.

The Papal Election

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, on February 28, 2013, Cardinal Bergoglio made his trip to Rome for the Conclave. He was elected Pope on March 13, on the second day and fifth ballot, and took the name of Francis. He never figured in the list of the papabili created by the imagination of newsmen worldwide. Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, when asked why the media failed to predict the new Pope, wittingly answered: "The Holy Spirit does not read social media." At about 8:00 in the evening, Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran stepped at the balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica to announce the Habemus Papam. The Pope Francis appeared wearing a white cassock, instead of the customary red mozzetta. He also wore the same iron pectoral cross he used in Buenos Aires, rather than the gold one of his predecessors.

After greeting, "Good evening" he said: "As you know, the duty of the Conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother Cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am." Before giving his first blessing Urbi et Orbi, he asked the people to pray for the Church, for his predecessor, and for himself.

The Name Francis

Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio became the 266th Pope, and the first to take the name of Francis. The tradition of changing name goes back to the first Pope, whose name Simon was changed by Jesus into Peter, meaning Rock. The chosen name signifies the spirituality and the mission of a Pope.

At his first audience, on March 16, 2013, the new Pope explained that he was inspired to take the name Francis in the Sistine Chapel, immediately after his election, when the Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes embraced him and whispered: "Don't forget the poor." The Pope has a great admiration for Saint Francis of Assisi because of his simplicity, humility, and promotion of Christian poverty against luxury, pride, and vanity of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities of the time.

In keeping with his name, Pope Francis decided not to reside in the luxurious apartments of the Apostolic Palace, but to live with other priests and bishops at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guest house. Similarly, he refuses to wear the red Prada shoes of his predecessor, but retained the black leather shoes donated by some friends in Argentina.

The First Days of Pope Francis

The first days of Pope Francis were an outpouring of graces for the Catholic Church and for the whole world. On the day of his election, inside the Sistine Chapel, he received the Cardinals' congratulations standing, rather than seated on the papal throne. On route for the evening dinner, he declined to use the Papa Mobile reserved for him, preferring to take bus with the other Cardinals. The first thing he did the next day, was to consecrate his Papacy to the Blessed Virgin Mary, by visiting the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

There, he deposited a bouquet of flowers and prayed before the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani, purportedly painted by Saint Luke himself. On his way back to the Vatican, he passed by the hotel where he had stayed to pay the bill and pick up his own bags. Pope Francis has already touched the hearts of billions of people; not only Catholics but also members of other religions and denominations. Remarkably, even atheists speak well of him, because he said: "The Lord has redeemed all of us, not just the Catholics, and even the atheists... even if they do not believe, we may meet them in doing good."

The Coat of Arms

Pope Francis decided to keep the Coat of Arms and the Motto he used since his episcopal consecration in 1991, with the changes required by his new position as Roman Pontiff.

The Coat of Arms is composed of a blue field with three symbols, representing the Holy Family. On the top is the Radiating Sun of the Society of Jesus, within which is a cross and acronym IHS, which stands for Jesus Hominum Salvator ( Jesus Man's Saviour ) On the left is an Eight-pointed Star, which symbolizes the Virgin Mary; and on the right a nard flower, or spikenard, which traditionally represents Saint Joseph. The Coat of Arms is adorned by a Miter, representing the authority of the Pope, and the Crossed Keys of Saint Peter, symbolizing the papal power to loose and bind on heaven and earth. Below is the motto: Miserando atque eligeddo, which means: "By having mercy He chose him." It is taken from a homily of Saint Bede, and refers to the vocation of Saint Matthew. As we know, Pope Francis discovered his vocation on the feast of Saint Matthew of 1953; and like the evangelist he felt to be unworthy of the call. Despite their sinfulness, both were called by Jesus.

Mary Untier of Knots

During his studies in Germany, Reverend Father Bergoglio visited the Perlach Church in Augsburg and was fascinated by the icon of Mary Untier of Knots . He brought a copy of the image to Argentina where it has become a popular Marian devotion. The painting was commissioned in 1700 by Reverend Father Jakob Rem to celebrate the reconciliation between his grandfathers, attributed to a prayer he offered to the Virgin Mary, which said: "In this religious act, I raise the bonds of matrimony, to unite all knots and smoothen them."

The icon shows Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, standing on the crescent moon, surrounded by angels, and with the Holy Spirit above her own crown of twelve stars. Mary unites knots into a long strip, signifying her powerful intercession in solving the difficulties of daily life. At the same, she rests her foot on the head of a snake, symbol of the Devil. Below there is Raphael who accompanies Tobias to ask Sara to be his wife. The concept of Mary untying knots was developed by Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, who said: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary."


Marian Devotion

Pope Francis has a filial devotion for the Blessed Virgin Mary. His mother was named Maria, like the Mother of Jesus; and his first priestly formation was at the Archdiocesan Seminary of Buenos Aires, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

On the evening of his election, at the Balcony of Saint Peter's Basilica, he prayed the Hail Mary along with the Our Father and the Glory Be.

The next day, he visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome to consecrate his papacy to the Virgin Mary. He deposited a bouquet of flowers and prayed before the oldest Marian icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani. Since the beginning of his pontificate the Holy Father has constantly referred to Christ's Mother as our model in Christian life.

Above all, he presented Mary as a model for the dignity of women, who are essential in the life of the Church. At the beginning of the Month of the Rosary, on May 1, 2013, Pope Francis said that the devotion to the Blessed Mother is an important part of the Christian life.

Devotion to Saint Joseph

Since his childhood Pope Francis was deeply devoted to Saint Joseph, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary. The devotion was strengthened when he entered the Seminary of San Miguel in Buenos Aires, dedicated to Saint Joseph. What he admired most of the foster father of Jesus was his profound faith, his tireless work, and his humble silence. In the whole Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible we cannot find a single utterance of Saint Joseph, and most of the talking was one by his Virgin Spouse.

Pope Francis chose the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, March 19, as the date for his Papal Inauguration. In the homily, he said: "I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church. He exercised his role as protector discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity."

On May 1, 2013, Pope Francis prescribed that all Holy Masses, during the Eucharist Prayer, the name of Saint Joseph was to be inserted between that of Mary and the Apostles, in this terms: "With the blessed Joseph, her chaste Spouse."

Indeed, Pope Francis is the "People's Pope." He always identifies himself with the people, and the people identify with him. When asked about his simple lifestyle, Pope Francis answered: "My people are poor and I am one of them."

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -