The Vatican might as well give up it still has any attempts left in its efforts to make Pope Francis live like the rest of popes before him. Francis whose humility supersedes his reputation, is said to regularly dress as a simple priest and sneak out during the night to visit and comfort the homeless of Rome, helping the teams of the aid of the Holy See at the distribution of food, clothes and support funds.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, when he was named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Bergoglio, the first pope from the Americas, took his papal title after St Francis of Assisi of Italy.
St Francis of Assisi is recorded in the Vatican annals as having abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christianity after reportedly hearing the voice of God, who commanded him to rebuild the Christian church and live in poverty. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
Following in the footsteps of his idol, Pope Francis’ tenure has been characterized by humility and outspoken support of the world’s poor and marginalised people, and he has been involved actively in areas of political diplomacy and environmental advocacy.
The tone of his papacy, which has become admired globally, was established long before his elevation to the church’s highest position; however, when he was named to that post, the media quickly picked up on stories of his humility.
News circulated about the fact that he returned to the boarding house where he had been staying to pay his bill personally, rather than send an assistant, and that he would choose to live in a simple two-room apartment rather than the luxurious papal accommodations in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace. In choosing to live more simply, Pope Francis broke a tradition that had been upheld by popes for more than a century.
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