Pope Francis, the late leader of the Catholic Church and one of the most recognizable figures in the world, was not only a spiritual figure, but also a man with an extraordinary history and personality. With a simple lifestyle and a progressive approach to faith, he has left his mark on the modern world. But how did he become such a beloved and respected pope? Here are some interesting and incredible facts you might not know about Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday (April 21) after suffering a stroke.
1. Pope Francis was the first Jesuit Pope.
2. First Latin American pope (born in Buenos Aires, Argentina; birth name Jorge Mario Bergoglio).
3. The first pope to be named "Person of the Year" by Time Magazine in a short time in office.
4. The first non-European pope in more than 1,000 years.
5. Pope Francis trained as a chemical technician, taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé.
6. He enjoyed taking selfies.
7. He only had one lung, as part of his other lung had been removed in his youth.
8. The first pope to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone.
9. Once upon a time, he had a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he sold to build a hostel and a kitchen for the poor.
10. The Pope kissed the feet of prisoners, to remember the passion of Christ. He also washed the feet of women and Muslims.
11. The first Pope to give up the papal secure vehicle.
12. Pope Francis offered support to a raped woman after reading her letter. He devoted a lot of time to ordinary people, especially those in difficulty.
13. The late Pope did not look down on atheists nor did he encourage Christians to harbor hatred towards them.
14. The Pope respected other religions and believed that in one form or another, we all believe in God. He encouraged Christians and Muslims to live and work together.
During his visit to Albania in September 2014, he expressed admiration for Albania as one of the countries to follow as an example of religious coexistence: "This is a value that must be preserved and developed every day. I hope that Albania will continue on this path and be an example for many other countries."
Suggested articles:
References for the article: Biography.com, Radio Vaticana, New York Times, Guardian, CNN, RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg, El País
