Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Pope Francis, born with the name Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the supreme leader of the world Catholic Church as well as the head of the state of the Vatican. Born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he became the first Pope coming from South America and the first member of the Jesuit Order to lead the world Catholic Church.
On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope during the Papal Conclave, a closed gathering of the College of Cardinals held to elect a new Pope. He was then elected as the pope, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, who resigned due to age and declining health.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name Francis, in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, a revered Italian saint and religious reformer from the 13th century. Saint Francis, born as Giovanni Francesco at Bernardone (1181/1182) in Assisi, was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant and a noblewoman. Despite his privileged background, Saint Francis decides to leave all of his wealth behind and devote his life to serving others in poverty for the sake of humanity.
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Inspired by Saint Francis’s spirits and devotion to humanity, solidarity with the poor, and simplicity of heart and mind, Jorge Mario Bergoglio aspired to become a “Pope of the people.” By choosing the name Francis, he is committed to a pastoral mission focused on solidarity with the marginalized, the poor, and those on the periphery, grounded in faith and love for humanity.
Since becoming the leader of the Catholic Church, his commitment to humanity led Pope Francis to receive numerous acknowledgements from various institutions and governments around the world. Notably, on February 4, 2019, he was awarded the “Human Fraternity Award” by the United Arab Emirates, which recognizes individuals and organizations for their significant contributions to fostering human solidarity.
To this day, Pope Francis remains true to the commitment he made when he chose his name and continues to voice his belief in humanity and world peace.
(Raidi/Agung)
