Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 17 December 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. His father Mario was an accountant employed by the railways and his mother Regina Sivori was a committed wife dedicated to raising their five children, he is the eldest and went surgery to remove a lung due to serious infection.
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Following his high school graduation, he enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires, where he received a master's degree in chemistry and then chose the path of the priesthood, entering the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. On 11 March 1958 he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. He completed his studies of the humanities in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963 to graduate with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel, and later received a doctorate in theology in Freiburg, Germany.  University of Buenos Aires  Chile  |
Colegeo de San Jose in San Miguel
Freiburg, Germany
On 13 December 1969, he was ordained as a priest by Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano and continued his training between 1970 and 1971 at the University of Alcala de Henares, Spain. He vowed his final profession with the Jesuits on 22 April 1973 and made the Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus on July 1973, he served at this position for next six years. He then resumed his work in the University sector and served once again as Rector of the San Jose, as well as Parish Priest in San Miguel.
Archbishop Ramon Jose Castellano
University of Alcala de Henares, Spain
In March 1986, Bergoglio moved to Germany to finish his doctoral thesis at the Sankt Georgen Graduate school of philosophy and theology in Frankfurt and returned to Argentina to serve as a spiritual director and confessor at the Colegio del Salvador. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino wanted him as a close collaborator that's why on 20 May 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him as a Titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. Five years later, in 1997, he was promoted and appointed to the position of Cadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and it was during this time that Bergoglio choose the episcopal motto, "Miserando atque eligendo" meaning, because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him".
Sankt Georgen Graduate school of philosophy and theology
Cardinal Antonio Quarracino
Pope John Paul II
As an Archbishop, he was involved in creation of new parishes and restructuring of the archdiocese administrative offices, and he strengthened the presence of church in the slums and underdeveloped areas of Buenos Aires. It was during his service as a bishop that Jorge Bergoglio made it a habit to celebrate the Holy Thursday ritual washing of feet in "a jail, a hospital, a home for the elderly or with poor people".
Not even nine months had passed when after the death of Cardinal Quarracino, he succeeded him on 28 February 1998, as Archbishop, primate of Argentina and ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who have no ordinary of their own rite.
Before entering the Mall of Asia Arena, Pope Francis encounters a sick child and touches it as he enters inside the Arena for the meeting with families. Pope Francis listen to the stories and blessed the families. During the meeting with families he talks to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal.
Pope Francis goes to Leyte to meet with the people who were hardest hit by typhoon Yolanda and the core of his pastoral visit in the Philippines. He held a mass in Tacloban wearing a raincoat. He also visited families of the victims in one of the areas in Palo, Leyte and greets many victims during a heavy downpour following a mass.
In March 1986, Bergoglio moved to Germany to finish his doctoral thesis at the Sankt Georgen Graduate school of philosophy and theology in Frankfurt and returned to Argentina to serve as a spiritual director and confessor at the Colegio del Salvador. The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Antonio Quarracino wanted him as a close collaborator that's why on 20 May 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him as a Titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. Five years later, in 1997, he was promoted and appointed to the position of Cadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires and it was during this time that Bergoglio choose the episcopal motto, "Miserando atque eligendo" meaning, because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him".
Sankt Georgen Graduate school of philosophy and theology
Cardinal Antonio Quarracino
Pope John Paul II
As an Archbishop, he was involved in creation of new parishes and restructuring of the archdiocese administrative offices, and he strengthened the presence of church in the slums and underdeveloped areas of Buenos Aires. It was during his service as a bishop that Jorge Bergoglio made it a habit to celebrate the Holy Thursday ritual washing of feet in "a jail, a hospital, a home for the elderly or with poor people".
Not even nine months had passed when after the death of Cardinal Quarracino, he succeeded him on 28 February 1998, as Archbishop, primate of Argentina and ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful in Argentina who have no ordinary of their own rite.
Three years later at the Consistory of 21 February 2001,
John Paul II conferred upon Archbishop Bergoglio the rank of Cardinal with the
title of Cardinal priest of San Roberto Bellarmino and attained a reputation
for personal humility, doctrinal conservatism and a commitment to social
justice. He declined to be appointed as President of the Argentine Bishops’
Conference in 2002, but three years later he was elected, which he served for
two terms until 2011 and participated in the Papal Conclave as a Cardinal elector
in which Pope Benedict XVI was elected.
Pope Francis
January 16, 2015 is to believe the first full day of Pope Francis in the Philippines on friday. Pope Francis aboard a covered vehicle prior to his meeting with President Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace. He gestures as he stands next to President Benigno Aguino III during arrival honors. He also led a mass at the Manila Cathedral where thousands of Filipino gathered outside.
Archbishop Bergoglio was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II with the title of cardinal priest of San Roberto
Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI
On 13 March 2013, at the age of 76, Jorge Bergoglio was
named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Becoming the
first citizen from the Americas, the first non-European and first Jesuit priest
to be named Pope Francis because he reportedly took the title after St. Francis
of Assisi of Italy and because of his concern of the well-being of the poor.
Prior to the 2013 papal election, Pope Francis had served as both archbishop
and Cardinal for more than 12 years.
"The Life of ST. Francis of Assisi"
A crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter’s Square in the
Vatican, City of Rome, Italy after his election win, Pope Francis stated, “as
you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to
me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway… Here I am. I
would like to thank you for your embrace.”
St. Peter's Square
January 2015, the most memorable time for all Filipino Catholics (perhaps even the non-Catholics). The four-day Journey of the Pope enable us to feel his compassion and mercy towards us, Filipinos.
On January 15, 2015 Pope Francis arrived at the Villamor airbase in Manila to start a 5 day visit in the Philippines. He was picked up by a Pope mobile and brought him to Apostolic Nunciature and was cheered by thousands of Filipinos gathered along Quirino avenue near Apostolic Nunciature where Pope Francis will stay. He was welcomed by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle after arriving the Villamor air base and Pope Francis embraces him.
January 16, 2015 is to believe the first full day of Pope Francis in the Philippines on friday. Pope Francis aboard a covered vehicle prior to his meeting with President Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace. He gestures as he stands next to President Benigno Aguino III during arrival honors. He also led a mass at the Manila Cathedral where thousands of Filipino gathered outside.
Before entering the Mall of Asia Arena, Pope Francis encounters a sick child and touches it as he enters inside the Arena for the meeting with families. Pope Francis listen to the stories and blessed the families. During the meeting with families he talks to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal.
Pope Francis goes to Leyte to meet with the people who were hardest hit by typhoon Yolanda and the core of his pastoral visit in the Philippines. He held a mass in Tacloban wearing a raincoat. He also visited families of the victims in one of the areas in Palo, Leyte and greets many victims during a heavy downpour following a mass.
The people who gathered at the University of Santo Tomas campus in Manila on Saturday, January 18, gave Pope Francis a rapturous welcome. UST is the oldest and first Pontifical university. Thousand of people had lined up overnight just to join the event with the youth. Pope Francis also met with various religious leaders upon his arrival at the Arch of the Centuries at the UST on Sunday morning.
Thousands of people gather at the Luneta to wait for a mass to be celebrated by Pope Francis. He aboard his Pope mobile drive past the statue of Filipino San Lorenzo Ruiz while greeting the faithful prior to his mass at the Quirino grandstand. He then celebrated a mass and even during the downpour of heavy rains, people keep praying and waited for Pope to receive blessings after the mass.
Departure ceremonies for Pope Francis began at 9:42am at Villamor Air Base in Pasay city on Monday, January 19 where President Benigno Aquino III himself sent the pontiff off. Pope Francis passed through honor guards with President Aquino and Manila Archbishop Antonio Cardinal Tagle on their walk to the airplane, before they bade him farewell on the planes's stairs. Crowds again awaited the Pope on his route from the Apostolic Nunciature to Villamor, this time, to say goodbye, he waves to the crowd assembled at the Villamor Air Base tramac as he boards the plane that will bring him to Rome.
Indeed, we are truly blessed for the Pope's visit because he is trying to help people realize that God's mercy is for all of us. Repent and be faithful to Gospel. His church today needs many leaders and followers with pure hearts to do his will. Let us not forget his preaches instead we should live according to God's will and follow God's plan for us. I admire Pope Francis because of his compassion and humility that appear to be his major strengths, and it inspires me to do my best and spread the light to the people. Long lived lolo kiko!
References:
http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/pope-francis-4362.php
http://www.biography.com/people/pope-francis-21152349#synopsis
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/biography/documents/papa-francesco-biografia-bergoglio.html
http://www.rappler.com/specials/pope-francis-ph/home
http://www.gov.ph/state-visits-ph/popeph/
