The 85-year-old Pope Francis, known worldwide as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who visits Greece from today Saturday to Monday, is today one of the most popular Primate of the Roman Catholic Church, often with a radical speech and unique intimacy in the world.
He is the first Pope from Latin America, but also from the American continent in general, as well as the first Jesuit Pope.
The name he chose was in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, for whom he has expressed his admiration, emphasizing that he brought to Christianity an idea of poverty against luxury, pride, vanity of the political and ecclesiastical forces of his time.
He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrant parents. His father, Mario, worked as a railroad accountant, and his mother, Regina Sivori, was dedicated to raising the family’s five children.
After completing his studies in Chemistry, he chose the path of the priesthood, entering the Theological Seminary of Villa Devoto. On March 11, 1958, he joined the Jesuit Order as a probationer. He completed his humanities studies in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963 where he received a degree in Philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel. He then (1964-1965) taught philosophy at the Inmaculada Concepción College in Santa Fé and a year later (1966) at the Colegio de San José in Buenos Aires, where he also studied Theology from 1967 to 1970.
On December 13, 1969, he was ordained a priest. He continued his education in 1970-1971 at the University of Alcalá de Henares in Spain and on April 22, 1973 gave his final oaths to the Jesuit Order. In Argentina he became a professor at the Theological School of San Miguel, counselor in the Province of the Order of Jesus and Rector of the School of Philosophy and Theology of the Colegio Máximo.
In July 1973 he became Governor of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held for six years. Shortly afterwards, he returned to work at the university and from 1980 to 1986 again served as rector at the Colegio de San José, as well as pastor at San Miguel. In March 1986 he completed his doctoral dissertation in Germany. He was then transferred first to the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires and then to the Jesuit church in Cordoba as a spiritual guide and confessor.
In 1992 he was ordained Archbishop of Buenos Aires and in February 2001 he was elected Cardinal. In April 2005 he participated in the Conclave which elected Pope Benedict XVI. He was elected the 266th Primate of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013.
A close friend of the Ecumenical Patriarch, he invites him and is by his side in all the most important meetings he organizes in the Vatican. He calls him “dear brother” and does not hide that every effort should be made to unite Christians.
Francis, in essence, says that in today’s globalized world, with so many challenges, the division of Christian doctrines makes absolutely no sense, and that, on the contrary, can only prove harmful. Both for the spread of the Christian message and for its influence in our society today.
At the same time, the pope, through his travels, presence and interventions, vigorously defends the right of Christians to live in peace and full rights, and rejects any form of pressure from religious fundamentalism.
His message is also addressed to those in the Middle East and on the borders of Europe who try to use their religious identity to violate human rights and disregard international law. His trip to Cyprus, which ended with his departure this morning with a special Aegean flight to Athens, had this very strong, special significance.
He has authored the books “Meditaciones para religiosos” (1982), “Reflexiones sobre la vida apostólica” (1992) and “Reflexiones de esperanza” (1992).
Indicative of his popularity is the movie “The Two Popes”. In 2019, he is played by the British actor Jonathan Price, while the role of Pope Benedict is played by the British actor Anthony Hopkins. The film deals with the fact that two Pontiffs are alive at the same time and the difference in their worldviews.
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