The Sacred Life And Accomplishment Of Pope Francis

AdonisDec 30, 2020Read original

Pope Francis has stamped his own authority on the Church since his election. In particular, he tried to stress the conventional values of humility, charity and modesty in the Gospels. Instead of concerns relating to abortion, pregnancy and homosexuality, he sought to persuade the church to put more emphasis on personal religious practice and compassion for the poor. He refused the more expensive apartments in the Vatican personally, choosing to choose plain clothing and remain in simpler accommodation.

"Let us allow Jesus to enter our lives and leave behind our egotism, our indifference and our closeness to others. "

Pope Francis' Early Life

On 17 December 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Flores, a suburb of Buenos Aires.

He attended a secondary technical school, graduating in chemistry with a diploma. He worked for a couple of years in a food laboratory as a chemist.

He started studying at a local seminary in Buenos Aires in 1955 (aged 19). He joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) as a novice on March 11, 1957. He went to Santiago, Chile, and studied humanities there. He took his initial vows on March 12, 1960, and formally became a Jesuit. During the 1960s, he worked as a writer, teaching literature and psychology in Sante Fe, and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He was ordained to the priesthood on 13 December 1969, after completing his theological studies, and became a professor of theology at the seminary of San Miguel.

He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992, and became Archbishop in 1998. He doubled the number of priests serving in the slums of Buenos Aires as archbishop. He was made a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Until 2011, when he retired, he retained the title of Archbishop of Buenos Aires because it was required under church law at the age of 75.

Pope Becoming

Bergoglio was said to be a realistic contender to become the next pope following the death of Pope John Paul II. But instead, Cardinal Ratzinger, a powerful nationalist, was selected. Pope Benedict XVI, however, declared his retirement quite abruptly in 2013. On the second day of the Papal conclave, on 13 March, Bergoglio was elected. Pope Francis, justifying his name choice, said of his patron saint:

"The man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man. . . how I wish for the poor and the poor in the Church. "