As Pope
The gold star represents the Virgin Mary, the grape-like plant—the spikenard—is associated with Saint Joseph and the IHS emblem is the symbol of the Jesuits[170][171][172]
Elected at the age of 76, Francis is reported to be in good health, and his doctors have stated that his missing lung tissue (which was removed in 1957)[45] does not have a significant impact on his health.[173] The only concern would be decreased respiratory reserve if he had a respiratory infection.[174] In the past, one attack of sciatica in 2007 prevented him from attending a consistory and delayed his return to Argentina for several days.[95]
As pope, his manner is less formal than that of his predecessors: a style that news coverage has referred to as "no frills," noting that it is "his common touch and accessibility that is proving the greatest inspiration."[175] For example, on the night of his election, he took the bus back to his hotel with the cardinals, rather than be driven in the papal car.[176] The next day, he visited Cardinal Jorge María Mejía in the hospital and chatted with patients and staff.[177] At his first media audience, the Friday after his election, the Pope said of Saint Francis of Assisi: "The man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man," and he added "How I would like a poor Church, and for the poor".[178]
It was reported that when he refused a sumptuous cape immediately after his election he said "Carnival is over!" (humiliating the papal Master of Ceremonies). According to Italian Vatican writer Andrea Tornielli he did not say this.[179]
In March 2013, a new song was dedicated to Francis and released in Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese and Italian, titled Come Puoi ("How You Can").[175] Also in March, Pablo Buera, the mayor of La Plata, Argentina, announced that the city had renamed a section of a street leading up to a local cathedral Papa Francisco.[180] There are already efforts to name other streets after him, as well as a school where he studied as a child.[180]
In addition to his native Spanish, Francis is conversant in Latin (the official language of the Holy See), Italian (the official language of Vatican City and the "everyday language" of the Holy See), he understands the Piedmontese dialect and some Genoese,[181] German,[182] French,[183] Portuguese,[184] English,[185] and Ukrainian.[186] He is "most comfortable" in Spanish, but is also "completely fluent" in Italian.[187] As of May 2013, sales of papal souvenirs, a sign of popularity, were up.[188]
A proposal to create a commemorative coin as a tribute to Pope Francis was made in Argentina's lower house on 28 November 2013. On the coins it would read, "Tribute from the Argentine People to Pope Francis." beneath his face.[189]
Election
Main article: Papal conclave, 2013
Bergoglio was elected pope on 13 March 2013,[190][191] the second day of the 2013 papal conclave, taking the papal name Francis.[192] Francis was elected on the fifth ballot of the conclave.[193] The Habemus Papam was delivered by Cardinal protodeacon Jean-Louis Tauran.[194] Cardinal Christoph Schönborn later said that Bergoglio was elected following two supernatural signs, one in the conclave and hence confidential, and a Latin American couple of friends of Schönborn who whispered Bergoglio's name in Schönborn's ear; Schönborn commented "if these people say Bergoglio, that’s an indication of the Holy Spirit".[195]
The gold star represents the Virgin Mary, the grape-like plant—the spikenard—is associated with Saint Joseph and the IHS emblem is the symbol of the Jesuits[170][171][172]
Elected at the age of 76, Francis is reported to be in good health, and his doctors have stated that his missing lung tissue (which was removed in 1957)[45] does not have a significant impact on his health.[173] The only concern would be decreased respiratory reserve if he had a respiratory infection.[174] In the past, one attack of sciatica in 2007 prevented him from attending a consistory and delayed his return to Argentina for several days.[95]
As pope, his manner is less formal than that of his predecessors: a style that news coverage has referred to as "no frills," noting that it is "his common touch and accessibility that is proving the greatest inspiration."[175] For example, on the night of his election, he took the bus back to his hotel with the cardinals, rather than be driven in the papal car.[176] The next day, he visited Cardinal Jorge María Mejía in the hospital and chatted with patients and staff.[177] At his first media audience, the Friday after his election, the Pope said of Saint Francis of Assisi: "The man who gives us this spirit of peace, the poor man," and he added "How I would like a poor Church, and for the poor".[178]
It was reported that when he refused a sumptuous cape immediately after his election he said "Carnival is over!" (humiliating the papal Master of Ceremonies). According to Italian Vatican writer Andrea Tornielli he did not say this.[179]
In March 2013, a new song was dedicated to Francis and released in Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese and Italian, titled Come Puoi ("How You Can").[175] Also in March, Pablo Buera, the mayor of La Plata, Argentina, announced that the city had renamed a section of a street leading up to a local cathedral Papa Francisco.[180] There are already efforts to name other streets after him, as well as a school where he studied as a child.[180]
In addition to his native Spanish, Francis is conversant in Latin (the official language of the Holy See), Italian (the official language of Vatican City and the "everyday language" of the Holy See), he understands the Piedmontese dialect and some Genoese,[181] German,[182] French,[183] Portuguese,[184] English,[185] and Ukrainian.[186] He is "most comfortable" in Spanish, but is also "completely fluent" in Italian.[187] As of May 2013, sales of papal souvenirs, a sign of popularity, were up.[188]
A proposal to create a commemorative coin as a tribute to Pope Francis was made in Argentina's lower house on 28 November 2013. On the coins it would read, "Tribute from the Argentine People to Pope Francis." beneath his face.[189]
Election
Main article: Papal conclave, 2013
Bergoglio was elected pope on 13 March 2013,[190][191] the second day of the 2013 papal conclave, taking the papal name Francis.[192] Francis was elected on the fifth ballot of the conclave.[193] The Habemus Papam was delivered by Cardinal protodeacon Jean-Louis Tauran.[194] Cardinal Christoph Schönborn later said that Bergoglio was elected following two supernatural signs, one in the conclave and hence confidential, and a Latin American couple of friends of Schönborn who whispered Bergoglio's name in Schönborn's ear; Schönborn commented "if these people say Bergoglio, that’s an indication of the Holy Spirit".[195]
