10 Interesting Facts About Pope Francis

The Pope is perhaps one of the most well-known figures in the world, and as the leader of the Catholic Church, he is the epitome of goodness and holiness.

Most of us know Pope Francis as the guy who travels in a bulletproof car, shakes hands, and blesses members of the public as he goes along, but there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Pope Francis is 84 years old. He was born on December 17, 1936.

He was born in Bueno Aires, Argentina.

He first became a priest in 1969 but did not become Pope until 2013.

No other Pope in Catholic history has had the name Francis, and he is also the first Jesuit to be elected as Pope.

The world knows him as Francis, but his real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a Catholic friar born in 12th century Italy.

In his pre-priest days, Pope Francis used to enjoy dancing the tango with his then-girlfriend.

While some may think he studied Theology, Pope Francis actually studied for a Master’s Degree in Chemistry and used to teach the subject in high schools.

Back in Buenos Aires, he worked as a bouncer in a bar – a far cry from the Vatican!

At the time of his election, medical professionals were worried about the health of Pope Francis. The missing lung which caused their concern was removed way back when he was a teen, but he is in very good health now.

His Holiness isn’t one to sit back and get waited on hand and foot, choosing rather to cook his own meals. He’s a big fan of cooking, and rumor has it that one of his specialty dishes is paella.