Pope Francis in his Own Words. Lisa Rogak

       INTRODUCTION

      ‘I’ll just go with the guys on the bus.’

       What the newly-elected Pope told his limo driver and security driver after his initial introduction to crowds in Rome

      With the election of Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope of the Catholic Church in March 2013, attention has turned worldwide not only towards what he will do as Pope but how he has lived – and preached – in the past. So far, it’s very clear that compared to other Popes, he has led a humble and unconventional life. For instance, as a cardinal, instead of asking to be addressed as ‘Your Eminence’, he preferred to simply be called ‘Father Jorge’.

      Some of the first photos to be published after he was introduced to happy throngs of worshippers in St Peter’s Square reveal that humility and the desire to serve the poor is deep in his blood. One in particular showed him kneeling to wash the feet of a woman, while other news reports had him performing the same service for AIDS patients. It’s hard to imagine his predecessor at the Vatican doing likewise.

      It’s clear that his humility and desire to meet with the people on their level – whether they’re Catholics or not – has already won him huge numbers of fans. He cracks jokes, doesn’t hesitate to challenge his country’s leaders on their inequities, and pushes away chauffeurs and luxury transport in order to press the flesh with commoners. And numerous news stories have shown that he offers great compassion towards those who have long been ostracized by churches of all stripes.

      At the same time, he shows that he’s a real person, with human desires that he wholeheartedly indulges (well, at least a few…). After all, when’s the last time you heard of a Pope who admits to loving tango and who’s pledged his undying loyalty to one Buenos Aires football club since childhood?

      He also walks the walk, which instantly won him respect and admiration around the world. During his tenure as a cardinal in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio refused to live in the luxury accommodation in the palace that previous cardinals called home. Instead, he rented a Spartan one-bedroom apartment where he cooked his own simple dinners and took the bus to work, and persuaded the diocese to allow a group of poor missionaries to live in the official residence.

      When the Conclave met in mid-March 2013 to elect a new Pope, the Catholic Church essentially crossed three first-evers off the list when they chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio to be pontiff.

      First of all, he is the first Jesuit ever elected to the office. Jesuits have a reputation as one of the more rebellious Catholic orders – often standing in direct conflict with traditional Church doctrine – while also being known for their intellectual rigour.

      Second, he is the first Pope to come from the Americas, and indeed, the first to come from Latin America, a region that holds the largest percentage of the worldwide Catholic population, at almost 40 per cent.

      Lastly, he is also the first pontiff to select the name of Francis, in homage to St Francis of Assisi, an Italian who devoted his life to the poor and formed the religious order of the Franciscans.

      To Catholics, accustomed to stern and authoritative Popes like Benedict XVI, the Conclave’s election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio is heart-warming and joyous, harkening back to the more personable days of John Paul II. And since the Pope is essentially a world leader, on the same footing with presidents and premiers, there’s no doubt that other world leaders are already lining up for an audience with him.

      In just a short time, Pope Francis has made an indelible impact on Catholics, making them feel optimistic about their faith, and in turn, their lives.

      The best way for Catholics and others who are curious about the new Pope to learn more about him is through his own writings – he has written a number of books and countless letters and sermons – and past interviews. Pope Francis in his Own Words will allow readers to do just that, with his views and thoughts condensed down into neatly concise bite-sized bits so everyone – Catholic or not – can immediately learn more about ‘Father Jorge’.