Pope Francis is a different kind of Pope than we are used to, but here are 15 interesting facts that really showcase Pope Francis and his life that everyone should know.
1. Pope Francis is affectionately known as “The People’s Pope."
2. His real name is Jorge Bergoglio.
3. He chose the name Frances because of Saint Frances of Assissi.
Saint Frances heard the crucifix talk to him and it told him to rebuild the church, he took it literally and started to rebuild the church brick by brick. Similarly, Pope Frances wants to rebuild the Church and make it whole again.
4. At the age of 16, he was a normal teenager with a crush on a girl.
He was going on a picnic with friends and at this picnic he was going to declare his love for the girl, but on his way there he walked by his neighborhood church and felt compelled to go in and go to confession. After that confession he knew he was called to be a priest. He never went to that picnic.
5. As a teenager, he loved to dance.
He would go to the dance club every Saturday night and he also worked as a bouncer there for a while.
6. Shortly after being ordained he contracted a terrible case of pneumonia and had to have surgery. He now has only one lung.
7. He chooses not to live in the Vatican apartment provided for him.
Instead, he lives in the guest apartment, Casa Santa Martha.
8. Pope Frances is a Jesuit, and Jesuits profess vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
9. He is very close friends with a Jewish rabbi, Abraham Skorka.
10. On his presentation to the people, he chose to wear simple robes and didn’t wear the traditional extravagant garments.
11. He wanted to retire at the age of 75 but was never replaced.
Thankfully, because now he’s our Pope!
12. A child once asked him if he wanted to be pope and this was his response: “You have to be totally crazy to want to be Pope!”
13. On the Holy Thursday after he was chosen, he went to a prison to wash the feet of the prisoners.
One of the most notable people he chose was a Muslim woman.
14. He has a unique stance on homosexuality: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will. Who am I to judge?”
15. Also on parenthood: “Some believe that, excuse my wording, that in order to be a good a Catholic you have to be like rabbits. No. Responsible parenthood.”
Pope Frances is stirring up the old traditions of the Church and causing a lot of controversies, but I wouldn’t want him any other way.
