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Francis
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (2008)
Papacy began13 March 2013
PredecessorBenedict XVI
Orders
Ordination13 December 1969
Consecration27 June 1992
by Antonio Quarracino
Created cardinal21 February 2001
Personal details
Born
Jorge Mario Bergoglio

(1936-12-17) 17 December 1936 (age 87)
Buenos Aires, Argentina
NationalityArgentine
(and Vatican)
DenominationRoman Catholic
ResidenceVatican City
Previous post(s)
MottoMiserando atque eligendo
("Showing compassion and choosing")[1]
Coat of armsFrancis's coat of arms
Papal styles of
Pope Francis
Reference styleHis Holiness
Spoken styleYour Holiness
Religious styleHoly Father

Francis (Latin: Franciscus; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936) is the 266th[2][3] and current pope of the Catholic Church, elected on 13 March 2013. In that role, he is both the leader of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State. From 1998 until his election as pope, he served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and was created cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Francis speaks Spanish (his mother tongue), Italian, and German fluently.[4]

Francis is the first Jesuit and the first from the Americas to be elected Pope. He is the first non-European pope since the 741 death of Syrian-born Pope Gregory III, who served for ten years (731-741).

Early life

Jorge Mario Bergoglio[5] (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxorxe ˈmarjo βerˈɡoʎo]) was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, one of the five children of Italian immigrants[6][3] Mario Jose Bergoglio (Italian pronunciation: [bɛrˈɡoʎʎo]), a railway worker, and Regina Maria Sivori, a housewife. As a teenager, Bergoglio had a lung removed as a result of an infection.[7] He studied and received a master's degree in chemistry at the University of Buenos Aires before he decided to pursue an ecclesiastical career.[8]

Ecclesiastical career

Jesuit

Bergoglio entered the Society of Jesus on 11 March 1958 and studied to become a priest at the Jesuit seminary in Villa Devoto. In 1960 Bergoglio obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo San José in San Miguel, and in 1964 and 1965 he taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada a highschool in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina, and in 1966 he taught the same courses at the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires.[9]

In 1967 Bergoglio finished his theological studies and was ordained to the priesthood on 13 December 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. He attended the Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel (Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel),[10] a seminary in San Miguel, Buenos Aires. Bergoglio attained the position of novice master there and became professor of theology.

The Society of Jesus promoted Bergoglio and he served as provincial for Argentina from 1973 to 1979.[11] He was transferred in 1980 to become the rector of the seminary in San Miguel, and served in that capacity until 1986. He returned to Argentina to serve as confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba.[9]

Bishop

Bergoglio was named Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and was ordained on 27 June 1992 as Titular Bishop of Auca,[12] with His Eminence, Antonio Cardinal Quarracino, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, serving as principal consecrator.

Bergoglio succeeded Cardinal Quarracino as Archbishop of Buenos Aires on 28 February 1998 and was concurrently named ordinary for Eastern Catholics in Argentina, who had lacked their own prelate.

Cardinal

At the consistory of 21 February 2001, Archbishop Bergoglio was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II with the title of cardinal-priest of San Roberto Bellarmino. As cardinal, Bergoglio was appointed to several administrative positions in the Roman Curia:

Cardinal Bergoglio became known for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social justice.[13] A simple lifestyle contributed to his reputation for humility. He lived in a small apartment, rather than in the palatial bishop's residence. He gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of public transportation,[14] and he reportedly cooked his own meals.[citation needed]

On the death of Pope John Paul II, Bergoglio was considered one of the papabile cardinals. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI. It has been reported that Bergoglio was in close contention with Ratzinger during the election, until he made an emotional plea[15] that the cardinals should not vote for him.[16] Earlier, he had participated in the funeral of Pope John Paul II and acted as a regent alongside the College of Cardinals, governing the Holy See and the Roman Catholic Church during the interregnum sede vacante period.

During the 2005 Synod of Bishops, he was elected a member of the Post-Synodal council. Catholic journalist John L. Allen, Jr. reported that Bergoglio was a frontrunner in the 2005 Conclave. An unauthorized diary of uncertain authenticity released in September 2005[17] confirmed that Bergoglio was the runner-up and main challenger of Cardinal Ratzinger at that conclave. The purported diary of the anonymous cardinal claimed Bergoglio received 40 votes in the third ballot, but fell back to 26 at the fourth and decisive ballot.

On 8 November 2005, Bergoglio was elected President of the Argentine Episcopal Conference for a three-year term (2005–2008) by a large majority of the Argentine bishops, which according to reports confirms his local leadership and the international prestige earned by his alleged performance in the conclave. He was reelected on November 11, 2008.

Relations with the Argentine government

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio meets President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

On 15 April 2005, a human rights lawyer filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, as superior in the Society of Jesus of Argentina, accusing him of involvement in the kidnapping by the Navy in May 1976 (during the military dictatorship) of two Jesuit priests.[18] The priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics, were found alive five months later, drugged and semi-naked. Yorio accused Bergoglio of effectively handing them over to the death squads by declining to tell the regime that he endorsed their work. Jalics refused to discuss it after moving into seclusion in a German monastery.[19] Horacio Verbitsky, an Argentine investigative journalist and author, wrote a book about this and other related events titled El Silencio: de Paulo VI a Bergoglio: las relaciones secretas de la Iglesia con la ESMA.[20]

According to the book, after their release, Yorio accused the then Provincial of his Jesuit order San Miguel, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, to have denounced him. Father General Pedro Arrupe in Rome was informed by letter or during the abduction, both he and Orlando Yorio were excluded from the Jesuit Order. [21]

According to his own testimony in his autobiography, after the priests’ imprisonment, Bergoglio worked behind the scenes for their release; his intercession with dictator Jorge Rafael Videla on their behalf may have saved their lives.[22] "The cardinal could not justify why these two priests were in a state of helplessness and exposed," according to Luis Zamora, who said that Bergoglio's testimony "demonstrates the role of the Church during the last military dictatorship." [23]

In 2010, Bergoglio told biographer Sergio Rubin that he often sheltered people from the dictatorship on church property, and on one occasion gave his identity papers to a man who looked like him, to enable the recipient to flee Argentina.[24]

Papacy

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Bergoglio was elected pope on 13 March 2013,[25][26] the second day of the 2013 Papal conclave, taking the papal name Francis.[27] According to Vatican spokesman Tom Rosica, Bergoglio chose Francis after in honour of Francis of Assisi.[28][29] However, some initially believed that, as a Jesuit, he chose Francis after Francis Xavier.[30][31]

On the day of his election, the Vatican clarified that his official papal name was Francis, not "Francis I." A Vatican spokesman said that the name would become Francis I if and when there is a Francis II.[32]

Bergoglio is the first Jesuit priest chosen to be pope.[33] He is also the first pope from the Americas, the New World, and the Southern Hemisphere. He is the first non-European pope in 1,272 years. The last non-European pope, St. Gregory III, was born in Syria and reigned from 731 to 741.[34]

Positions on moral and political issues

Abortion, euthanasia, and contraception

Cardinal Bergoglio has encouraged his clergy and laity to oppose both abortion and euthanasia, describing the pro-choice movement as a "culture of death".[35] Some rumors suggest that Pope Francis would permit the use of contraceptives to prevent the spread of disease,[36][failed verification] though he opposed their free distribution in Argentina.[37]

Homosexuality

He has affirmed church teaching on homosexuality, including that "men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect and compassion."[38][39] He opposes same-sex marriage,[40] and strongly, but ultimately unsuccessfully, opposed legislation introduced in 2010 by the Argentine Government to allow same-sex marriage, calling it a "real and dire anthropological throwback."[41] In a letter to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, he wrote:

"Let's not be naïve, we're not talking about a simple political battle;

it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God.
We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies

that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God."[42]

He has also stated that adoption by same-sex couples is a form of discrimination against children. This position received a rebuke from Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who said the church's tone was reminiscent of "medieval times and the Inquisition."Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Poverty and economic inequality

On September 30, 2009, Bergoglio spoke at a conference organized by the Argentina City Postgraduate School (EPOCA) at the Alvear Palace Hotel titled "Las deudas sociales de nuestro tiempo" where he quoted the 1992 "Documento de Santo Domingo"[43] by the Latin American Episcopal Conference, saying "extreme poverty and unjust economic structures that cause great inequalities" are violations of human rights.[44][45] He went on to describe social debt as “immoral, unjust and illegitimate".[46]

During a 48-hour public servant strike in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio observed the differences between "poor people who are persecuted for demanding work, and rich people who are applauded for fleeing from justice."[47] During a May 2010 speech in Argentina regarding the poor, he directed his message to the wealthy by saying: "You avoid taking into account the poor. We have no right to duck-down, to lower the arms carried by those in despair. We must reclaim the memory of our country who has a mother, recover the memory of our Mother".[48]

Worthiness to receive the Eucharist

In the Aparecida Document, a joint statement of the bishops of Latin America, Cardinal Bergoglio commented on the worthiness of individuals to receive the Eucharist. The text states in paragraph 436 that, "We should commit ourselves to ‘eucharistic coherence’, that is, we should be conscious that people cannot receive Holy Communion and at the same time act or speak against the commandments, in particular when abortion, euthanasia, and other serious crimes against life and family are facilitated. This responsibility applies particularly to legislators, governors, and health professionals."[49][50][51]

Connection to Prophecy

According to the Prophecy of the Popes (supposedly authored by Saint Malachy although some contend a more recent date of authorship) [52] the 266th pope to be elected (and the 112th pope on the list this text gives) will be the final pope, and will oversee the church as the "City of Seven Hills" is destroyed."[53][54] If this is true and to be taken literally, Francis would be the 112th and thus final pope.

This prophecy would be touched upon with more detail in Thomas Horn's "Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope is Here." In which the author contends the end of the Catholic Church is at hand (although Bergoglio did not appear on the list of ten likely candidates for being the literal "Peter from Rome.") The book correctly predicted that the previous pope, Benedict, would step down.[55]

Multiple news and online sources were quick, in the hours after Francis' election, to seize upon the story (from both skeptical and open viewpoints) pointing to the proliferation of apocalyptic predictions in the wake of the conclave and offering multiple theories on the subject.[56][57][58][59]

Bibliography

Books

Jorge Bergoglio; Abraham Skorka (2010). Sobre el cielo y la tierra (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: Editorial Sudamericana. ISBN 9789500732932. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)[60]

Writings

  • Meditaciones para religiosos (1982)
  • Reflexiones sobre la vida apostólica (1986)
  • Reflexiones de esperanza (1992)
  • Diálogos entre Juan Pablo II y Fidel Castro (1998)
  • Educar: exigencia y pasión (2003)
  • Ponerse la patria al hombro (2004)
  • La nación por construir (2005)
  • Corrupción y pecado (2006)
  • Sobre la acusación de sí mismo (2006)
  • El verdadero poder es el servicio (2007)
  • Mente abierta, corazón creyente (2012)

See also

References

  1. ^ The phrase is drawn from a homily of Bede: "Vidit ergo Iesus publicanum, et quia miserando atque eligendo vidit, ait illi, Sequere me." "Jesus looked at the publican, and because he looked with mercy and selecting, said to him, 'Follow me.'" preso da: Miserando atque eligendo: il motto di Papa Francesco.
  2. ^ John A. Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary (1980) lists Pope John Paul II (1978–2005) as 264th pope, making Pope Benedict XVI the 265th and Francis the 266th
  3. ^ a b Rice-Oxley, Mark (13 March 2013). "Pope Francis: the humble pontiff with practical approach to poverty". The Guardian (UK). Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Pope Francis: 13 key facts about the new pontiff". The Guardian. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  5. ^ College of Cardinals Biographical notes (Template:Webcite)
  6. ^ "Argentina's Cardinal Bergoglio Is Elected Pope Francis". Bloomberg. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  7. ^ "New Pope, Francis, Known As Humble Man With A Focus On Social Outreach". CBS New York. CBS Local Media. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  8. ^ Rocca, Francis X (13 March 2013). "Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio: a profile". Catholic Herald. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Pope Francis : Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio named new Pope". Baltimore News Journal. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  10. ^ Official Website, Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel]
  11. ^ Story, Catholic.org
  12. ^ The titular see of Auca, established in 1969, is seated at Villafranca Montes de Oca, Spain: Titular See of Auca, Spain.
  13. ^ McCarthy, John (3 March 2013). "Profile: New pope, Jesuit Bergoglio, was runner-up in 2005 conclave". Ncronline.org. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Toward The Conclave Part III: The Candidates". 18 April 2005. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  15. ^ "Quasi in lacrime" (almost in tears)
  16. ^ "Ecco come andò davvero il Conclave del 2005 lastampa.it (Italian)". Vaticaninsider.lastampa.it. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Cardinal breaks conclave vow of secrecy". CNN.com. Associated Press. 23 September 2005. Archived from the original on 2005 October 1. Retrieved 13 March 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |archivedate= (help)
  18. ^ April 17, 2005 (17 April 2005). "Los Angeles Times: Argentine Cardinal Named in Kidnap Lawsuit, 17 April 2005". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013. {{cite web}}: Text "From Associated Press" ignored (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images (1 November 2011). "Pope Francis: A look at the life of the first South American pontiff The Associated Press March 13, 2013". Nj.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  20. ^ The Silence: from Paulo VI to Bergoglio: secret relations of the Church with the ESMA, Sudamericana (Bs. As.), 2005. ISBN 950-07-2035-3
  21. ^ Horacio Verbitsky: Los signos del cardenal. In: Página/12, 2. Mai 2010. Abgerufen am 1. Januar 2011.
  22. ^ "Pope Francis Is Known For Simplicity And Humility". Associated Press. March 13, 2013 4:31 PM. Retrieved 13 March 2013. both men were freed after Bergoglio took extraordinary, behind-the-scenes action to save them — including persuading dictator Jorge Videla's family priest to call in sick so that he could say Mass in the junta leader's home, where he privately appealed for mercy. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ "Bergoglio declared missing by priests NATION November 9, 2010". Lanacion.com.ar. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  24. ^ "Pope Francis Is Known For Simplicity And Humility". Associated Press. March 13, 2013 4:31 PM. Retrieved 13 March 2013. Bergoglio — who ran Argentina's Jesuit order during the dictatorship — told Rubin that he regularly hid people on church property during the dictatorship, and once gave his identity papers to a man with similar features, enabling him to escape across the border. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ "FRANCISCUS". Holy See. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam: Eminentissimum ac Reverendissimum Dominum, Dominum Georgium MariumSanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Bergoglioqui sibi nomen imposuit Franciscum
  26. ^ Habemus Papam! Cardinal Bergolio Elected Pope - Fracis I (Template:Webcite)
  27. ^ "Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina Named as New Pope of the Roman Catholic Church". CNBC. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  28. ^ David Batty. "Pope named after Francis of Assisi heralded by gull atop Sistine chimney | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  29. ^ http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/13/cardinals-elect-new-pope/. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ^ Rice-Oxley, Mark. "Pope Francis: the humble pontiff with practical approach to poverty". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  31. ^ Glauber, Bill. "Pope's name may connect to Jesuit roots - not Francis of Assisi". JSOnline. Journal Interactive Milwaukee. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  32. ^ Emily Alpert, Vatican: It's Pope Francis, not Pope Francis I, Los Angeles Times (March 13, 2013). Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  33. ^ BBC (13 March 2013). "Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected Pope". BBC. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  34. ^ Financial Times (13 March 2013). "New Pope is an Argentine". Financial Times. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  35. ^ "Le cardinal Bergoglio invite à défendre la culture de la vie avec ardeur". Zenit.org. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  36. ^ Owen, Paul (13 March 2013). "Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio elected pontiff, takes name Pope Francis". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ Stevens, Dan (13 March 2013). "Argentina's Bergoglio Becomes Pope Francis". The Costa Rican Times. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  38. ^ Catholic Online. "NEW POPE: Who is this man named Bergoglio? – Living Faith – Home & Family – Catholic Online". Catholic.org. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  39. ^ "Catechism of the Catholic Church - The sixth commandment". Vatican.va. 29 October 1951. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  40. ^ "Para Bergoglio, la ley de matrimonio gay es 'una movida del Diablo' –". Infobae.com. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  41. ^ Padgett, Tim (18 July 2010). "The Vatican and Women: Casting the First Stone". TIME. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  42. ^ Goñi, Uki (15 July 2010). "Defying Church, Argentina Legalizes Gay Marriage". Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  43. ^ Latin American Episcopal Conference (1992). "Documento de Santo Domingo" (PDF). Nueva evangelización, promoción humana, cultura cristiana : documento de consulta : IV Conferencia General del Episcopado Latinoamericano, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana, 1992, Conclusiones. Cuarta Conferencia General del Episcopado Latinoamericano (in Spanish). Bogotá: CELAM. OCLC 29289158. Retrieved 9 March 2013. {{cite conference}}: External link in |conferenceurl= (help); Unknown parameter |booktitle= ignored (|book-title= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |conferenceurl= ignored (|conference-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ Bergoglio, Jorge Mario (30 September 2009). Seminario : las deudas sociales de nuestro tiempo : la deuda social según la doctrina de la iglesia (presented seminar). Posgrado internacional del bicentenario. Políticas públicas, soluciones para la crisis de nuestro tiempo. (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: EPOCA-USAL. OCLC 665073169. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ Rouillon, Jorge (01 October 2009). "Bergoglio: "Los derechos humanos también se violan con la pobreza"". La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved March 9, 2013. Citó a los obispos latinoamericanos que en 1992 dijeron que "los derechos humanos se violan no sólo por el terrorismo, la represión, los asesinatos, sino también por condiciones de extrema pobreza y estructuras económicas injustas que originan grandes desigualdades". {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ "Extreme poverty is also a violation of human rights, says Argentinean cardinal". Catholic News Agency. 1 October 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  47. ^ "Argentines protest against pay cuts". 8 August 2001. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  48. ^ "Bergoglio criticó a "los que no tienen en cuenta a los más pobres"". lanacion.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  49. ^ "Aparecida Document Sent to Pontiff". Zenit.org. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  50. ^ "Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires Rages Against Abortion "Death Sentence"". LifeSiteNews.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  51. ^ "New Pope Francis Called Abortion the "Death Penalty for the Unborn"". LifeNews.com. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  52. ^ O'Brien 1880, pp. 16 & 25.
  53. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes
  54. ^ Catholic Encyclopedia 1913, "Prophecy".
  55. ^ Horn, Thomas (2012). Petrus Romanus: The Last Pope is Here. [[[Defenders Publications]]. ISBN 9780984825615.
  56. ^ http://www.11alive.com/news/article/277453/186/Pope-Benedicts-retirement-spawns-fresh-doomsday-talk
  57. ^ http://www.rightsidenews.com/2013021331976/editorial/us-opinion-and-editorial/petrus-romanus-the-last-pope.html
  58. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2278037/Doomsday-fanatics-point-12th-century-prophecy-pope-the-end-world.html
  59. ^ http://styxhexenhammer666.blogspot.com/2013/03/pope-francis-petrus-romanus-and-jesuits.html
  60. ^ Jorge Mario Bergoglio; Abraham Skorka (1 December 2010). Sobre el cielo y la tierra / On Heaven and Earth. Random House Mondadori. ISBN 978-950-07-3293-2. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
External media
Images
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Video
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Buenos Aires
28 February 1998 – 13 March 2013 		Vacant
Preceded by Pope
13 March 2013 – present 		Incumbent

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