Jorge Mario Bergoglio, The People's Pope

MANILA: Last year, 2014, the Sons of Holy Mary Immaculate of Manila came out with a stand-up 12-month "Pope's Calendar" – it's lovingly written I want to reproduce it here month by month word for word before it gets lost to history.

January 2014: Bergoglio's Early Life

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Flores, Buenos Aires, on 17 December 1936, and was the eldest of five children. His father, Mario Jose Bergoglio, was an Italian immigrant and worked in the railways; his mother, Regina Maria Sivori, was born in Buenos Aires to a family of Italian origins. He attended the elementary at the Salesian School in Ramos Mejia, and the technical secondary school at the Escuela Nacional de Educacion Technica. Having graduated with honors in Chemistry, he worked for a few years as a chemical technician in a food laboratory. [No one] could have never suspected what God had in wait for him.

February 2014: His Vocation Story

On 21 September 1953, Feast of St Matthew, after going to confession, Jorge Mario Bergoglio felt the calling for the priesthood, and entered the Archdiocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires. One time, he was so attracted by a girl he met at his uncle's wedding that he had to rethink of his vocation. Luckily, the infatuation faded away. He also suffered from pneumonia, and a part of his right lung was removed. In 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus, and two years later he made the first religious profession. On 13 December 1969, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop |Ramos Jose Castellano.

March 2014: Episcopal Consecration

In 1992, Father Bergoglio was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop, and six years later he succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino as Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He worked tirelessly to create new parishes and to increase the Church's presence in the shanties. In 1998, he was also appointed Ordinary for the Eastern Catholics in Argentina. From 2005 to 2011, he served as President of the Argentine Episcopal Conference. At 78, Bergoglio submitted his resignation as Archbishop of Buenos Aires to Pope Benedict XVI, as required by Canon Law.

April 2014: Cardinal Bergoglio

In 2001, Archbishop Bergoglio was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II, and became known for his personal humility, spirit of communion, and commitment to social justice. He lived in a small apartment, rather than in the elegant bishop's residence, took public transportation instead of using a [chauffeured] limousine, and cooked his own meals. In 2005, at the Conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Bergoglio was considered one of the papabili, or frontrunner candidates. On the fourth ballot, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected as the 265th Pope, and took the name of Benedict XVI.

May 2014: The Papal Election

Following the resignation of Benedict XVI, on 28 February 2013, Cardinal Bergoglio made his trip to Rome for the Conclave. He was elected Pope on 13 March, on the second day and the fifth ballot, and took the name of Francis. At about 8:00 in the evening, Pope Francis appeared [on] the balcony of St Peter's Basilica. After greeting [the people] "Good evening," he said, "As you know, the duty of the Conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother Cardinals have chosen one who is from far away, but here I am." Before giving his first blessing Urbi et Orbi, he asked the people to pray for the Church, for his predecessor, and for himself.

June 2014: The Name Francis

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the 266th Pope, and the first to take the name of Francis. The tradition of changing name goes back to the first Pope, whose name Simon was changed by Jesus into Peter, meaning Rock. The chosen name signifies the spirituality and the mission of a Pope. At his first audience, on 16 March 2013, the new Pope explained that he was inspired to take the name Francis in the Sistine Chapel, immediately after his election, when the Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes embraced him and whispered, "Don't forget the poor." The Pope has a great admiration for St Francis of Assisi because of his simplicity and humility.

July 2014: The First Days of Pope Francis

The first days of Pope Francis were an outpouring of graces for the Catholic Church and for the whole world. On the day of his election, inside the Sistine Chapel, he received the Cardinals' congratulations standing, rather than seated on the papal throne. On his way for the evening dinner, he declined to use the Papa Mobile reserved for him, preferring to take the bus with the Cardinals. The first thing he did was to consecrate his papacy to the Blessed Virgin Mary, by visiting the Basilica of St Mary Major. On his way back to the Vatican, he passed by the hotel where he had stayed to pay the bill and pick up his own bags.

August 2014: The Coat of Arms

The coat of arms is composed of a blue field with three symbols representing the Holy Family. On the top is the Radiating Sun of the Society of Jesus, within which is a cross and the acronym "IHS" which stands for Jesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Man's Savior). On the left is an eight-pointed Star, which symbolizes the Virgin Mary, and on the right, a nard flower, or spikenard, which traditionally represents St Joseph. Below is the motto, Miserando atque Eligendo, which means "By having mercy He chose him." It refers to the vocation of St Matthew, and as we know, Pope Francis discovered his vocation on the Feast of the Evangelist of 1953.

September 2014: Mary Untier of Knots

During his studies in Germany, Fr Bergoglio visited the Perlach Church in Augsburg and was fascinated by the icon of Mary Untier of Knots. He brought a copy of the image to Argentina where it has become a popular Marian devotion. The icon shows Mary untying knots into a long strip, signifying her powerful intercession in solving the difficulties of daily life. At the same time, she rests her foot on the head of a snake, symbol of the Devil. The concept of Mary untying knots was developed by St Irenaeus of Lyons, who said, "The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary."

October 2014: Marian Devotion

Pope Francis has a filial devotion to the Virgin Mary. His mother was named Maria, and his first priestly formation was at the Archdiocesan Seminary of Buenos Aires, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. On the evening of his election, at the Balcony of St Peter's Basilica, he prayed the Hail Mary, along with the Our Father and Glory Be. The next day, he visited the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome to consecrate his papacy to the Virgin Mary. He deposited a bouquet of flowers and prayed before the oldest Marian icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani, traditionally said to be painted by St Luke the evangelist.

November 2014: Devotion to St Joseph

Since his childhood, Pope Francis was deeply devoted to St Joseph, the Spouse of the Virgin Mary. The devotion was strengthened when he entered the Seminary of San Miguel in Buenos Aires, dedicated to St Joseph. What he admired most of the foster-father of Jesus was his profound faith, his tireless work, and his humble silence. Pope Francis chose the Solemnity of St Joseph, 19 March, as the date for his Papal Inauguration, and he prescribed that in all Masses, during the Eucharistic Prayer, the name of St Joseph was to be inserted between that of Mary and of the Apostles, in this terms: "With the blessed Joseph, her chaste Spouse."

December 2014: The People's Pope

Pope Francis identifies himself with the people, and the people identify with him. Even as Bishop and Cardinal, he travelled by public transportation, lived in a small apartment, and cooked his own meals. The papal election did not change his humility: he retained the iron pectoral cross, kept the old black shoes, and preferred to live in the Vatican guest house, rather than in the Apostolic Palace. Pope Francis is giving his security lots of headaches, since he unpredictably steps down from the car to kiss sick people and children. When asked about his simple lifestyle, he answered: "My people are poor and I am one of them."