I assume that he is choosing the name in honor of St. Francis Xavier' date=' who was a student of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order.[/quote']Probably so, but with the humility he has displayed in these first moments of his papacy, I think it works either way.

Motto Ad maiorem Dei gloriam

 

"For the greater glory of God."

 

I love that motto; always have.

There are lots of former Italians in Argentina.

 

Off topic, but their accent is awesome. Argentina has an Italian accent to its Spanish.

Speculation earlier today that the official installation Mass would be on March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph. That's a great feast day to have an occasion like this.

 

Papa Franciscus is the first man to become pope not to come from among the secular clergy since Gregory XVI -- who was a Camaldolese Benedictine monk -- in 1831.

Edited March 13, 201313 yr by Getslow

Probably so, but with the humility he has displayed in these first moments of his papacy, I think it works either way.

Saint Francis of Assisi.

Unless I'm missing someone, this is the first time someone has chosen a never-previously-used regnal name since the 10th century. I'm not counting John Paul I since he specifically stated he chose the name in honor of his two immediate predecessors.

 

Speaking of JPI, he was the first to actually use "the First" as part of the name. Is Pope Francis going to do the same?

This is really an encouraging pick for me. It shows a break from tradition in several ways which is much needed in The Church at this time.

Cardinal Bergoglio...from Cardinal Archibishop of Buenos Aires. Jesuit background. Orderly priests are more rare as a general rule.

 

I know this is a serious thread (for the most part).

 

"Orderly priests" as opposed to what?

I know this is a serious thread (for the most part).

 

"Orderly priests" as opposed to what?

 

Haha...diocesan. (Orrrr, there are always the really messy ones.)

So, a little more on Pope Francis' background:

 

He was born to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires in 1936. He has lived there his entire life to this point. Currently at 76 years old, he was considered by many to be on the older side of the papabile. He also has some health issues, primarily stemming from the fact that he has lived most of his life with only one lung - having had one lung removed when he was a teenager following a severe infection.

 

As stated earlier in the thread, he is the first Pope to come from the Society Of Jesus. He was elevated to the office of Cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Prior to joining the Jesuit order, he had an educational background in chemistry. He is considered to be more reserved and quiet than he is charismatic. All who have known him in his priestly life know him as very humble and very compassionate towards the poor. As the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he opted not to live in the Archbishop's mansion, and instead rented an apartment next door to the cathedral.

 

During the 2005 Papal Conclave, he was considered to be one of the four frontrunners for Pope, along with Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Ruini, and Cardinal Martini.

 

Although he has taken occasional stances in support of the Catholic church's teachings on homosexuality, he has voiced little to no public opinion at all on the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina, as well as Argentina's free contraception.

 

His namesake comes, most likely, from one or two saints: St. Francis of Assisi, who saw his calling as trying to rebuild the church in a time of turmoil during the 1200s, as well as St. Francis Xavier, one co-founders of the Jesuit order in the 16th century. St. Francis Xavier was known for his spiritual scholarship and outreach.

So, a little more on Pope Francis' background:

 

He was born to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires in 1936. He has lived there his entire life to this point. Currently at 76 years old, he was considered by many to be on the older side of the papabile. He also has some health issues, primarily stemming from the fact that he has lived most of his life with only one lung - having had one lung removed when he was a teenager following a severe infection.

 

As stated earlier in the thread, he is the first Pope to come from the Society Of Jesus. He was elevated to the office of Cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Prior to joining the Jesuit order, he had an educational background in chemistry. He is considered to be more reserved and quiet than he is charismatic. All who have known him in his priestly life know him as very humble and very compassionate towards the poor. As the Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he opted not to live in the Archbishop's mansion, and instead rented an apartment next door to the cathedral.

 

During the 2005 Papal Conclave, he was considered to be one of the four frontrunners for Pope, along with Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Ruini, and Cardinal Martini.

 

Although he has taken occasional stances in support of the Catholic church's teachings on homosexuality, he has voiced little to no public opinion at all on the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina, as well as Argentina's free contraception.

 

His namesake comes, most likely, from one or two saints: St. Francis of Assisi, who saw his calling as trying to rebuild the church in a time of turmoil during the 1200s, as well as St. Francis Xavier, one co-founders of the Jesuit order in the 16th century. St. Francis Xavier was known for his spiritual scholarship and outreach.

 

Serious question do you feel the Italian Cardinals found it easier to elect a Latin American Pope of Italian decent. It is a perfect storm for Pope Francis. The Church needed a Latin American pope and the easiest way to get the European cardinals behind it was finding one of Italian decent. This choice was a great one and even most haters of the church will struggle to find negative with this selection.

First, as a non-Catholic, let me say that I celebrate with you on your election of a new pope!

 

Secondly, I cannot say just how cool it is that he was an educational background in chemistry! My kind of pope!

Speaking of JPI, he was the first to actually use "the First" as part of the name. Is Pope Francis going to do the same?

Just Francis.

Although he has taken occasional stances in support of the Catholic church's teachings on homosexuality, he has voiced little to no public opinion at all on the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina, as well as Argentina's free contraception.

 

According to Wikipedia he is open to discussing the use of contraception if one member of the married couple had an std but opponsed Argentina' free contraception. Also Wikipedia said he lead the fight to prevent the legalization of gay marriage in Argentina.

 

It is bizarre how such conflicting info is in the media.

I have been reading articles about him and one article asked people to vote and explain their vote. It seems the extremes do not care for him. The hard right is not happy that a Jesuit is Pope with their soft liberal Liberation Theology views (despite Pope Francis opposing Liberation Theology) and the left his accusing him of being another gay hating, women hating old conservative white guy. I would say when both extremes do not like you, that speaks well of you.