Here are 80 things the Jesuits love about Pope Francis. (This list was compiled on December 13, 2016, for Pope Francis’ 80th birthday.)- As the first Jesuit pope, Francis was trained in a faith that does justice and a spirituality that seeks to find God in all things.
- When Pope Francis first stepped out on the balcony after his election, his first words were a humble “Buona sera” (“Good evening”).
- He rode the bus home with the cardinals after being elected instead of hopping in the papal limousine.
- Then he stopped by his hotel to pick up his suitcase — and pay his own bill.
- For his new digs, he chose the Vatican guesthouse instead of the papal apartments.
- Rolling Stone thinks he’s a rock star.
- Esquire named him the “Best Dressed Man” of 2013.
- But he just calls himself “a sinner.”
- He isn’t afraid to extend his ministry into the digital world and referred to the internet as “a gift from God.”
- He’s the first pope to have an Instagram account, reaching one million followers in just 12 hours.
- He shares his message with 31 million followers on Twitter at @Pontifex and his accounts in 8 other languages.
- And he appreciates a good selfie.
(L’Osservatore Romano) - He doesn’t mind when kids interrupt his speeches to hang out.
(L’Osservatore Romano) - In his children’s book, “Dear Pope Francis,” the pope was asked, “If you could do one miracle, what would it be?” His answer: “I would heal children.”
- He could not be cuter with babies.
(CNS photo/Paul Haring) - “Hello, it’s Pope Francis.” He enjoys cold-calling strangers who write to him.
- He picked up the phone to cancel his newspaper subscription.
- He called to comfort a woman who was raped.
- He visited a L’Arche community for mentally disabled.
- He invited 1,500 homeless people to the Vatican for pizza.
- Spoke to each baby during a visit to a neonatal unit.
(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout) - He goes where others are reluctant to minister and embraced a man with a disfiguring disease.
- Reportedly snuck out of the Vatican to minister to homeless people at night.
- Enjoys a 90% popularity rating with Catholics.
- Took kids for a spin in the popemobile.
- Opened the Vatican museums and the Sistine Chapel to homeless people for a private tour.
- Personally invited a group of homeless men to celebrate his 77th birthday.
- Granted sainthood to one of his favorite Jesuits, Peter Faber, saying Faber was “capable of great and strong decisions but also capable of being so gentle and loving.”
- Marked his 78th birthday by gifting 400 sleeping bags to those in need in Rome.
- Spent his 79th birthday with young Catholics who work to welcome migrants.
- He visited Lesbos andbrought three Syrian refugee families back to the Vatican.
(CNS photo/Paul Haring) - Built a new homeless shelter near the Vatican.
- He’s not afraid to break protocol, like the time he invited African refugees on stage with him at a general audience.
- He urged mobsters to pray for forgiveness and “repent.”
- He famously asked: “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”
- Reaching out to Muslims, he called for mutual respect between the two religions.
- He celebrated Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Asked Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to bless him and “the Church of Rome.”
- Broke with tradition and washed women’s feet on Holy Thursday.
(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) - Instead of dining with Congress, had a meal with homeless people while visiting D.C.
- Played a significant role in the historic US-Cuba breakthrough.
- Makes a mean paella and “dulce de leche” dessert.
- He told bishops to show compassion for broken marriages.
- And called on church officials to live modestly.
- Instead of giving Vatican employees bonuses, he donated the funds to the poor.
- In December 2015, he declared the Year of Mercy.
- He ordered an audit of the Vatican.
- Says the church should be like a “field hospital.”
- Met with a former student, who is gay, and his longtime partner during his visit to the U.S.
- If Martians show up, he’d baptize them if they asked.
- Put poor and homeless people in the VIP seats at a charity concert.
- He canonized José de Anchieta, SJ, the “Apostle of Brazil.”
- Made two popes, John XXIII and John Paul II, saints in the same ceremony.
- Chose to be called Francis after “the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation,” St. Francis of Assisi.
- He even celebrated a world day of prayer for the care of creation.
- Championed the environment by writing his environmental encyclical Laudato Si’.
- Loves animals and not afraid to “smell the sheep.”
(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) - He rode the eco-friendly tram at World Youth Day in Poland.
- He embraced modesty, from his used car to his simple black shoes.
- He’s made a Fiat his vehicle of choice, instead of the popemobile.
- He needs prayers and isn’t afraid to ask for them.
- Met the family who drove 13,000 miles from Buenos Aires to Philadelphia to see him.
- Enjoys a good time, even wearing a clown nose with a newlywed couple.
- He’s a fan of snail mail and sent a letter to a Jesuit prison ministry.
- He’s sent letters to prisoners who are serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as minors.
- He made surprise visits to a Rome hospital and hospice.
- He was once a bouncer at a nightclub in Buenos Aires.
- He auctioned his Harley Davidson for charity.
- He loves the tango.
- He has one lung, but it does the job of two.
- As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he gave up his chauffeured limousine and took the bus to work instead.
- As pope, he still enjoys a good bus ride on the way to his Lenten retreat.
(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) - He loves the Argentinian soccer club San Lorenzo de Almagro.
(CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) - He wishes he could waltz into a pizza shop and order up a pie.
- Popes, they’re just like us: he made a surprise visit to his optician to try on glasses.
- Inspired the “Francis Effect,” with Catholics praying more.
- And the pope’s not just for Catholics anymore; he’s a favorite of many other faiths as well.
- Is a pope of many “firsts,” including the first pope from the Americas.
- He became the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress.
- He loves us just as much as we love him.
