Who was Pope Francis before the pontificate? Little known facts from life
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires in the family of Italian immigrants. His father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an accountant, and his mother, Regina María Sívori, a housewife. The Pope was the oldest of five siblings, which was associated with great responsibility from an early age.
His siblings are two brothers – Oscar Adrán and Alberto Horacio, and two sisters – Marta Regina and Maria Elena. It was with the last, only living sister that the Pope kept very close relationships throughout his life. He talked about her as his « closest confidant ».
Family – the foundation of the life of Pope Francis
The Pope often emphasized that what he took from home was the value of love, mutual respect and help. As a young boy he was full of energy, and his family life was in line with Catholic values. He often remembered family dinners, which were the moment of joint prayer and joy, and his mother’s contribution to shaping his spirituality.
The youth of Pope Francis. An ordinary boy from Buenos Aires
Pope Francis He grew up in one of the poorest districts of Buenos Aires – Flores. It was there that he spent his childhood and youth, which was the period of his first serious choices. Although he was born in a family with modest income, he never lacked emotional and spiritual support. From an early age he combined family life with intensive Catholic education. At the age of 6 he began studying at the Salesian school, which had a huge impact on his life.
As a child, Jorge was not the type of a boy who immediately pulled crowds, but had some natural sensitivity to the needs of others. Although he initially wanted to become a doctor, his passion for spirituality and theology gradually grew, which prompted him to choose a priestly path. At that time, he began to develop his own Interest in literature, philosophy and psychology – These areas were to become the foundation of his subsequent education in the Jesuit order.
Road to the priesthood. Jorge Bergoglio decisions that changed life
Initially, Bergoglio attended a technical school where He won the Diploma of the Chemist Technicianwhich was a traditional path for young people in his family district. Over time, however, he felt that his true calling was in the service of the Church. At the age of 21 he began studying at the seminar in Villa Devoto, where he developed religious interests. In 1958 he joined the Jesuit order, and his decision to take a religious life was one of the most important in his life.
Before he was ordained, he studied theology, psychology, philosophy and literature, which had a huge impact on the later way of looking at the world. In 1969, at the age of 33, Bergoglio was ordained a priest, and in 1973 he made a perpetual profession, deciding to live in the Jesuit order. Although during this period he was known in Argentina as a spiritual leader, he was not yet widely known outside the country.
A simple and modest man
Although Bergoglio climbed the level of the church hierarchy, he always maintained unusual modesty. As a priest and later bishop, he often focused on the simplicity of life, avoided luxuries and always tried to be close to people. He lived in a small, modest apartment, He cooked and traveled by subwaywhich was in contrast to many other representatives of the Church. For many, his modesty was an example of what a spiritual guide should look like – without unnecessary glamor, still close to the faithful.
Bergoglio was also a great lover of books and literature. He often talked about how important books were to him that shaped his way of thinking. In turn, during his studies and early pastoral work, he was very interested in psychology, which later had an impact on his way of treating people and the ability to get into relations with those who suffered or experienced crises.
Private life of Pope Francis. Relations with family and friends
Although Bergoglio was devoted to the Church, he never forgot about the family. His relations with his loved ones were full of warmth and respect. He had deep emotional ties with his parents, and he had particularly close contact with his mother. He mentioned that it was she who taught him the values of prayer and kindness towards others. After the death of Father, Bergoglio became even more connected with his family and was a support for his loved ones.
Source: « Rzeczpospolita »
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