Introduction
On March 13, 2013,
a new pope was elected
to lead the Catholic Church.
He was chosen by 115
cardinals after only five
ballots or votes.
His name is Pope Francis.
Who is this man who has
been called to take on this
important work for the good
of the Church and the whole
world?
Some Facts About
Pope Francis
His real name – his baptismal name –
is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. His first name
is pronounced ‘Hor-hay’ and means
‘George’ in English.
The pope comes from Buenos Aires, the
capital city of Argentina. (Find it on the
map.) Buenos Aires is in the north, near
Uruguay.
40% of Catholics live in South America.
Pope Francis is the first pope from
North or South America, and the first
pope from the Southern Hemisphere.
Pope Francis is 76 years old and was born on December 17,
1936. He has five brothers and sisters. His father was a
railway worker, and his mother was a housewife. Both of
his parents were of Italian heritage.
As a teenager, he
had to have one
lung removed, due
to an infection.
After finishing
high school he
earned a master’s
degree in
chemistry.
At the age of 21, Jorge Bergoglio decided to become a priest.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969. (He has been a
priest for 42 years.) The Pope belongs to an order of priests
known as the Jesuits.
In 1998 he became the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was
named a cardinal in 2001.
Pope Francis speaks six
languages: Spanish, Latin,
Italian, German, French,
and English. He loves
literature and has written
books on spirituality and
prayer.
The pope is a humble man and likes to live a simple life. As
Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he chose not to live in a
luxurious home. Rather, he cooked his own meals and would
ride the bus or his bicycle to work. He dressed as a simple
priest.
Pope Francis was known
for living and working
among the people. He
especially liked to visit
the poor who lived in the
slum areas and those
suffering from AIDS in
hospitals. He is being
called the ‘Pope of the
Poor’ … the ‘Pope of the
People’.
Ever since he was a child, the pope has supported a
particular Argentinian soccer team. It is called the San
Lorenzo de Almagro football club. Here he is holding
up the team’s banner.
This is the first pope in the history of the Church to ever
choose Francis as his papal name. He is Pope Francis
the First. He named himself after St. Francis of Assisi.
St. Francis of Assisi lived 800 years
ago and belonged to a rich Italian
family, but he gave away all his
wealth and chose to live a simple,
prayerful life. St. Francis had a love
for the poor and spent his life telling
others about the Good News of
Jesus Christ.
Perhaps Cardinal Bergoglio chose
the name, Francis, because he too
has a great love for Jesus and a
great concern for the poor.
Let Us Pray
The whole Church is rejoicing at the news of the election of
Pope Francis as our new Holy Father. When he first stepped
out onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square and was
presented to the people, Pope Francis blessed us. He also
asked us to pray with him and for him.
Today let us pray for
our new Shepherd.
Prayer of the Faithful
Reader:
For Pope Francis, that the Lord may
strengthen and protect him as he begins
this sacred and important work.
We pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
For the poor and the needy, and for those
who work hard to help them, especially
Catholic Social Services and the Canadian
Catholic Organization for Development and
Peace. We pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
For unity in the Church, that with Pope Francis’
leadership and example, all of God’s people
will work together for peace, for justice, and
for a better world. We pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
For all priests and clergy, especially our parish
priests and Fr. ________________ (name of
your parish priest) that they may be
examples of God’s love and goodness for
others. We pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
For all of us, that during this Year of Faith, we
may grow in our knowledge of God, our
service to God’s people, and our love for the
Church. We pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Reader:
That we may follow the example of St. Francis
of Assisi and our new pope, Pope Francis,
trying to live simply, and always caring for our
environment. We pray to the Lord.
All:
Lord, hear our prayer.
Closing Prayer
Leader: Let us pray …
All:
Loving God, we thank you for giving us a new pope. You
have chosen your servant Francis as shepherd of your
people. May he be a light for the world.
Give Pope Francis a spirit of courage and right judgment,
a spirit of knowledge and love.
Fill him with the wisdom and strength that are needed to
build the Church and to make it strong. By word and
example, may the Church – all of us – reflect the love of God
and the peace of Christ. May Pope Francis lead us into a
closer friendship with you.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever. Amen.
Final Blessing
Leader:
…
May our good and generous God bless us
All:
In the name of the Father + and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.