Francis is one of the oldest popes in history. He was born in 1936 in Buenos Aires and is the eldest of five children of Mario José Bergoglio, an accountant and Italian immigrant. His mother was a homemaker. The Pope attended Escuela Técnica Industrial, a technical school where he earned a diploma as a chemical technician. At 21, he began studying at a seminary.
Who was Francis before he became Pope? He was compared to an ascetic
In 1958, Jorge joined the Jesuit order, and in 1969, he was ordained a priest. He took his perpetual vows on April 22, 1973. It was then that he started being called the "head of the Argentine Church." In 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed him as a cardinal. At that time, Bergoglio asked the faithful not to travel to Rome to celebrate his success but instead to give the money they would have spent on the trip to the poor. His humility won the hearts of many. Some even thought he led an ascetic lifestyle. He cooked his own meals and used public transportation. The world first heard of him in 2001 when, during a visit to a hospice, he washed and kissed the feet of 12 people suffering from AIDS.
What was Pope Francis' childhood like? He loved one sport in particular
In 2013, Pope Benedict XVI abdicated due to advanced age, declining health, and fatigue. On March 13, Francis was elected the new Pope. His choice of name was not accidental. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, he wanted to focus on the issues of the poor. Though it may seem as though he was destined for this role, becoming the head of the Church was never his ambition.
At the age of four, he wanted to be a butcher. This was influenced by the fact that he frequently went grocery shopping with his mother and grandmother. He was also passionate about soccer. As a child, he would often sneak out of the house to play on the field with his friends. "In Buenos Aires, those who played soccer like me were called 'pata dura,' which means 'two left feet.' Many times, I was the goalkeeper," he said in an interview.
