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Marcos Brindicci / Reuters
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina is both the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit pope.
Pope Francis is unique not just for being the first Latin American pope. He's also the first Jesuit pope, possibly signaling a renewed emphasis on traditional Catholic theology by the church.
The Society of Jesus, as the Jesuits are formally known, observes a vow of poverty, and as archbishop of Buenos Aires, the former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was known for his accessibility and simplicity, said Michael Sheeran, president-elect of the American Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.
"Pope Francis took the bus to work every day," Sheeran said in a live online discussion of Bergoglio's election. "He sold the cardinal's residence and lived in a small apartment where he cooked for himself."
But that simplicity hides a steely determination to advance Jesuit principles, especially on the importance of traditional Catholic teachings and protection of the poor and the oppressed, Sheeran said.
That determination emerged during Bergoglio's service as the top Jesuit leader of Argentina beginning in 1973, Sheeran said, noting, "He was a tough guy who made sure his men toed the mark."
"I think you'll find a man who is conservative theologically but very strong on matters of social justice," Sheeran said.
George Weigel, a senior fellow at the nonprofit Ethics and Public Policy Center who is a Vatican analyst for NBC News, agreed that the choice of Bergoglio "speaks to the church's commitment to the poor of the world and compassion in a world that often needs a lot of healing."
At the same time, "this is a John Paul II guy," Weigel said, referring to Pope John Paul II, who elevated Bergoglio to archbishop in 1998 and cardinal in 2001. As archbishop of Buenos Aires, "he tried to call that community back to orthodoxy," Weigel said.
The new pope has been a vocal opponent of abortion and especially of same-sex marriage, saying in 2010 that its role was to "seriously injure the family." He said the practice deprived children of "the human growth that God wanted them given by a father and a mother."
That position drew a rebuke from Argentine President Cristina Fernandez, who called Bergoglio a relic of "medieval times and the Inquisition."
Ultimate redemption for Jesuits
The Society of Jesus is the largest religious order of men in the Catholic Church, according to church statistics, and the largest single order of Catholic priests. But there has never before been a Jesuit pope, reflecting both the order's own reluctance to get deeply involved in church politics and its history as a polarizing force within Catholicism.
NBC News Special Report: The Vatican crowd cheers as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina is blessed and elevated to Pope Francis, successor to Pope Benedict XVI, on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
"I'm amazed (Francis) was selected," Sheeran said, because "the Jesuits steer clear of getting high-ranking jobs like this."
The society was founded in Rome in 1540 by St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier as a movement devoted to living in the imitation of Jesus.
From the beginning, the Jesuits have been aggressively evangelistic; they were the shock troops in the church's resistance to the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century and among the first missionaries to set up shop in such far-flung locales as India, Asia, and Central and South America, the Catholic Encyclopedia records.
That activism earned the society a reputation for political scheming by the 1760s, leading to its official suppression by Pope Clement XIV in 1773. Expulsion of the order quickly followed across much of the Catholic world, from France and Portugal to as far away as the Philippines.
"It thereby contributed to the polarization and politicization of the European public sphere in the age of enlightenment," Christine Vogel, a historian at the University of Rostock in Germany, wrote in a 2010 examination of the suppression.
The order remained in the wilderness for 41 years before Pope Pius VII restored its recognition after the Napoleonic Wars wound down in 1814.
In the modern era, the Jesuits have focused on social justice and education, having founded scores of prominent colleges around the world, including 28 in the U.S., among them Georgetown in Washington, Boston College, Fordham in New York, Holy Cross in Massachusetts, Marquette in Milwaukee and Loyola in New Orleans. (An earlier version of this story inaccurately located Marquette University.)
That's in keeping with Pope Francis' own background — like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, Bergoglio is an academic as well as a priest.
Before he became a bishop in 1992, Bergoglio earned a doctorate in theology in Freiburg, Germany. He returned to Argentina and was a theology instructor at and later rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel in Buenos Aires.
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Pontifex Franciscum orationem ducere ecclesia est secundum humilitatem Domini nostri Jesu Christi pia diligatis invicem
Hello folks, the new Jesuit aye. I heard he is from the Russian Italian Order: Pulimov Ben Dover Wil Moe Lestyew order.
I know this is crass, but come on, wake up, the Vatican just this week paid out another 10 million in the LA diocese to victims to cover up their pedophiles. In 2007 they paid 660 Million in the same diocese. This is going on all around the globe.
What other organization can continue to operate after it is caught raping children over and over again. WalMart couldn't continue to sell rakes if they did the same thing. What are they going to say, sorry folks we had a little problem in aisle 3 in the children's half pants off sale but everything is OK now! They would be shut down in a heart beat!
If you go to (http://www.bishop-accountability.org/settlements/) you can see the vast and I mean vast numbers of pedophilia settlements the church has paid out in the US alone.
Actually, the Vatican doesn't contribute to the sex scandal settlements. The $10 million has to be covered by the LA Archdiocese all by itself. Maybe Mahoney and his cohorts can sell some real estate and part of its art collection.
Maybe he's the guy to clean it up. Cus if he isn't, they are going to have to throw the biggest garage sale the world has ever seen.
A poor choice. Just another dinosaur who will refuse to move the church into modernity. His type would love to see women staying at home to serve their man and children, see gays burn at the cross, and try to guilt everyone who has anything to give all their money to the church so they can proselytize and "help the poor". Uh huh.
Religion and the church has no place in modernity.
I believe that it is wrong to think that. The Church must adapt to a changing world.
Hello Mike, the Vatican controls all the money of their parishes. It may appear that all the Vaticans subsidiaries control their own balance sheets but they really don't. Through tax shelters, off shore accounts and other nefarious and clandestine accounting they hide and keep their finances to appear separate and they keep them secret to mitigate their liabilities. They are a corporation and hide their wealth just like most wealthy individuals and corporations. Enclosed are some excerpts from articles and their URLs if you would like to learn about actually how rich and corrupt the Vatican is.
From http://www.chick.com/reading/books/153/153_10.asp
http://www.cephasministry.com/catholic_vaticans_billions_1.html
"The Catholic church is the biggest financial power, wealth accumulator and property owner in existence. She is a greater possessor of material riches than any other single institution, corporation, bank, giant trust, government or state of the whole globe. The pope, as the visible ruler of this immense amassment of wealth, is consequently the richest individual of the twentieth century. No one can realistically assess how much he is worth in terms of billions of dollars."
From: http://www.voxfux.com/features/vaticanmurder.html
"In 1968, Sindona comes up with new plans on how to shelter Vatican money in offshore investments; this comes because throughout Italy, there is again growing scrutiny and concern about the Holy Sees investments, it’s learned that the Vatican has money in weapons manufacturing, even a Pharmaceutical firm that produces birth control pills, and in that year, there is another call for the Italian government to remove the special tax exemption for the church. Sindona begins working very closely with an American bishop (who would later become an Archbishop) named Paul Marcinkus."
jake2247,
Man you almost had me converted till you got to the part about giving them all my money. I mean that would mean a trip to D.C. to get it back.
i am so happy to a new pope
No one who follows church history; would guess that they would elect a Jesuit as pope;the Jesuit order owes their allegiance to the vicar general(aka black pope); they are the elite, most educated, of all the Catholic orders; they were also known as the warrior monks, in the tradition of the Templar's; they have major University's in every major country in the world; during WW 2, the Jesuit University in Tokyo, was left alone by the Japanese Army by orders of the Emperor; a very good choice, I think major changes may be in store for the Church.
I like the fact that the jesuits value education, social justice and helping the poor - and their approach is living like jesus.
I'm just a little lost on the gay marriage issue, where - anywhere - in the bible did Jesus say a single word about homosexuality?
If Jesus did not, then why are the Jesuits saying any words on the subject either?
Live like Jesus, great...but actually practice what you're preaching.
Incredibily difficult, when even the Pope cant manage to do it.
Fact check--Marquette the town is in Michigan, but the Jesuit school known as Marquette University is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Glad someone else noticed this. Whenever I see such an obvious error in an article it makes me question everything else in it.
Brain lock on deadline on my part. It's been fixed and noted in the text. Many thanks for the sharp eyes!
One of the things that everyone seems to be getting wrong is when they say he was named after Francis of Assisi. He probably was named after Francis Xavier one of the founders of the Jesuit order.
I wondered which Francis it was.
There's Francis of Assisi, Francis Xavier, Francis de Sales, and assorted less well known saints named Francis, as well.
I appreciate his focus on social justice. Certainly that harks back to Francis of Assisi. I wonder whether he will sell off the Church's assets to help address poverty as he did in Argentina...
If he is so against abortions, I wonder whether he will condone birth control. Better birth control - fewer abortions, and most of his flock around the world is using it, anyway; if he is truly interested in social justice, a change of stance on birth control would be the right way to go.
To those of you that are wondering which Francis this Pope named himself after(Francis Xavier, founder of the Jesuit order), please read the article above. By listing a bunch of Popes, you are just trying to show off your knowledge (or lack off) of the Catholic history.
The Pope said himself that he named himself after ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI.
Guy, it looks as though Swordsman is right.
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/14/17301655-new-popes-choice-of-francis-has-deep-meaning-for-catholic-church?lite
God Bless The Pope.
no-god will NOT bless this bigoted, hateful man-he said the children of gays are discriminated against and mentally abused! he too will brun in hell for his hatred
Norman let me explane a little some thing you missed in sex ed Gays can not make babies together, so you are really getting mad over nothing!:)
God Bless this new religious leader. May He guide him for what is about to come.
mayo - one does not need to "make it" with ones spouse in order for a family to be whole.
ask every heterosexual family that has fertility issues and require outside assistance.
or are you saying they arent "real families" and their children have no value?
hate...it's what christians do best. so very, very very jesus like.
tylersafruit banned, rereg of Uncle Henry and others. Find another site.
What a media circus for a church that protects pedaphile priests and covers up rather than deal with the problem.
let those without sin cast the first stone LG
Chris-yes, we all do sin...but the sin of covering up child abuse is a far worse level of sin.
You can cast as many stones as you choose at the Church for covering up the pedaphiles. The Church deserves it and I am Catholic. If there are those who are still in the Church allowing this to go on at this time I hope that they are crucified.
I hope this new Pope will demonstrate through his actions that those in the priesthood who violate the precious trust placed upon them, will not be sheltered, or excused, but dealt with severely and abruptly. This church's focus on Christ's principals renewed,(as any church's should be), in an effort today as an ensign to the nations.Which has failed thus far, because it hid its sins, allowing wolves to prey among the sheep it had taken a pledge to protect. Also,recognizing diversity, yet holding all accountable for sin, while still loving the sinner.
If the Catholic church is to ever heal and move forward, it must recognize, it will never be able to be all things to all people.Just as Christ wasn't and can't be all things to all people,but set the standard by which man must conform to meet His Laws and Commandments.Therefore it is man who changes, not Christ. For Eternal truths by very definition, do not, but our understanding of them do.
The road ahead will no doubt to bumpy and challenging for the Catholic Church, however, clearly it needs some house cleaning desperately, but also moving forward into the modern age.For practices not found scriptural based.I wish this new Pope well in his efforts to help guide over 1.2 billion souls to understand God's will for them.
Speak English FFS.. all this LLatin is givein my head a ache.
Sorry for your headache but not for the Latin. Don't blame others for the fact you're functionally illiterate.
Sorry Guernica (I've seen the painting, have you?), but being able to recite or rehash in Latin doesn't mean you're functionally illiterate. It might mean you just happen to be a self-satisfied, self-appointed prig who thinks someone that doesn't know dead languages knows nothing at all. Myself, I know word origins, but that doesn't mean I speak that particular language. I do know how to spell butt cheek though.
warren
The translation off of Google is:
Bishop Francis' prayer is to lead the church in the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ may love one another
The cardinals have spoken and a new Pontiff has been selected. May God bless and guide him, always.
Peace.
I wish him well and hope he serves the Church for a long time with distinction.
I am glad we chose a Jesuit from the Western Hemisphere, a new pope from the new world...
They were infiltrated just like what is happening in the scouts now....
I would say more but it will be censored, and I wouldn't be allowed to post it. I like to call a spade a spade...
FYI all women are now leaving for Venus.. Gay men will soon rule the world.
Perhaps a major fact check correction is in order in that the Jesuits have direct affiliation too at the University of Detroit (Detroit, MI) and their affiliated high school: Jesuit, and were instrumental in the French founding of Detroit back in 1701.
Same for the strong Jesuit affiliation at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA.
Regardless, a proud and glorious day for the Jesuits throughout the world! Congrats to our new Pope.
And Seattle University
As a Jesuit who believes in social justice I hope he will extend that to the gay community
He'll welcome them with open arms ------ as soon as they repent for their abominable behavior and convert to heterosexuality ----- and catholicism.
santhosa-you go to hell right now!
But I have a load of laundry. Can I go in a few hours. Anyone you want me to say hi to.
Only the males onder 15 yeas of age. The gays that so seek to change Chistian religions should just start there own if they are not excepted there, why most these confused people try to chage every one else, why do thy feel I most except them. Next thing you know murders and child molester will say they should be excepted because they were born that way.
Mayo, that is the most ridiculous argument against gay rights I've ever heard. Shame on you for equating child molesters and murders with being gay. You're an idiot.
No only a person that thinks they are born to sleep with a person of the same sex is an idiot. And what is more I was not making and argument against gay rights. Iwas makingan argument for other peoples rights. Gay have the samefreedom of religion that the rest of us do so they do not have to stay with the church if they want to be gay. Look at it this way if you are gay and the church says that is a sin but you think they are wrongyou are not a catholic, or even a christian. But you do believe in God so start a religion that believse that gay is OK. Lastley it is the same in some senses it is unnatural, it isa sin by Christian believes. Don't get me wrong I feel you have a right to be gay but I do not feel you have the right to be excepted by everyone.
Not even close, Mayo. Ignorant and terribly misguided.
All hail Francis I, your brand new head pedophile.
Not necessarily. Historically, those Jesuits don't mess around. They are bear bones right out of the bible. Poverty and all. This guy might put G*D before church and not put up with any nonscense.
Another conservative anti same-sex marriage Pope. I was raised Catholic and despite their beliefs on this matter have still attended mass. I was really hoping for "change". I attend because I believe in God and knows that he loves me and other loving gays-lesbians who live their lives following and believing in Him and his son Jesus Christ. I find it really hard to support the Catholic religion after this. I was really hoping for change. The church should be one of the first places to accept us. If they don't, why should any one else? Sorry Ellen, but I have to use you as an example. Ellen DeGeneres is a role model for us. Her last thing that she says on her show is " Be kind to one another". She gives like no other every day to people that deserve help and need it. She has given soooo much to charity. Do you really think that God is going to deny her into heaven.....because she's gay?
The straight answer to your question..... YES. No one who continues in a homosexual lifestyle or any other repeated, blatant and unrepentant sin will enter Heaven. How can a Pope change the word of God. I am not Catholic, and have issues with many of their beliefs and rituals. I do appreciate their biblical stance on homosexuality and abortion. God's word does not change, so any Christian organization that openly accepts homosexuals as Christian, have fallen from grace and are preaching a doctrine of heresy.
pastor65, I don't think it wise to presume to know what God is going to do.
jrl...it is when he has already told us what he is going to do.
Did anyone see his swimsuit photo on Milk the Bull? It's hilarious!
Another conservative anti same-sex marriage Pope. I was really hoping for Change! Do not think I can support the Catholic religion anymore.
A jesuit? You mean like the ones that headed up the inquistion? That's nice, just what we need.
I'm sure this guy will work hard to drive the catholic world back into the 16th century. Condoms? Burn them. Gays? Burn Them. Abortions? Burn the whore, and the clinic. Over population? Its ok, it's god's will that you are starving.
Maybe he will bring back witch hunts and of course the public executions. I bet it would be a reality TV sensation!
For once I agree with Argentina's president; this guy is a relic from the medieval times.
That was the Dominicans.
The Jesuits are the liberals of the church and responsible for Universities like; Fordham, Boston College, Georgetown, Xavier, Loyola and Gonzaga.
Wheeling Jesuit, Crieghton, don't forget them!
There is a reason why 90 percent of Argentinians call themselves Catholic, but only 10 percent go to mass. One of the big reasons that they have such low rates of practice is this man. The Society of Jesus should have NOTHING to say about gays since Jesus had NOTHING to say about them.
Given all their hateful commentary today, perhaps atheists actually share some core beliefs with the church... the Westboro Baptist Church, that is. For supposedly enlightened, reasonable individuals, atheists haven't exactly practiced what they preach. Days like today really bring out a conflagration of hate that normally festers quietly inside.
As an atheist, my core values start with the protection of children and not the violation of them. I believe in the work for pay theory rather in the begging for money and then the Crystal Cathedral thing happens. I also believe in anything where existence can be proven over those nursery rhymes in a fictional book called the bible.
the crystal catherdal has nothing to do with the RCC. Most diocese in the US and especially the diocese of Charleston SC have agressively put abusive clergy and lay people in the hands of justice. If you believe that God does not exist, so be it. Please, don't think you can influeance the faithful with atheistic arugments, tho.
update
This guy has been pope for what, 10 minutes,, and the comments here act like he created original sin. I guess its a good sign though......good thing no one has a lion to feed.
I have heard that this pope is strongly against same sex marriage, more so than then a usual priest, cardinal pope, etc. As this may be considered a step in the right direction for the Church, it's a major step back to the cause. Catholics across the world will continue to be against it, only with greater strength.
The Jesuits of the past are history so stop with the destroying of civilizations. It took more than the church to keep up with the misdeeds. Stop with pontificating upon the misdeeds of the past. One can hope that this new Pope looks to the future of Catholicism and sees what needs to change in order to move ahead without compromise. We, the Papacity included, ( I am a Catholic) are out of touch in many arenas and need to address that failure. Similar to any election, one can only hope for change that leads to betterment of the whole.
I hope he continues to endorse Slavery....That's what build the Catholic Church anyway. I also hope he continues to be the God People can see, feel and touch. Forget Jesus....we cant see him...we can see the POPE !
Somehow Newcomr I personally don't think you'll find it in this one. Perhaps in a Benedictine, but never a Jesuit. And as for Jesuit Colleges, how about Notre Dame. I think it's Jesuit also. Or so many others in the United States. Not to mention the grade schools where school kids are taught to be bummed out.
Actually, until that church comes into the 20th, much less the 21st, century, nothing will change except the amount of money it has while paying for pedophilia.
Notre Dame is not a Jesuit-run university. It was founded by members of the Congregation of the Holy Cross. I was kidding around with a Notre Dame grad after Marquette U beat his team at basketball a few weeks ago, and he confirmed the Holy Cross connection for ND.
Oh boy, the Jesuits, the shock troops of the Church! Their learning is unparalled, but also their history of inflexibility. Reform is usually rules and regulations NOT understanding and compassion. The Church needs a heart NOT a brain -- too much brain has brought it to where it is today. Let's hope he is the exception, not the rule. His first edict should be to do away with the Papacy and the bureaucracy of the Curia; and open the Church to all humanity - not close it off through dogma and cliques! But I guess that's too much to ask; it will probably be just more of the same.
Yeah lets get rid of the brains, that will make things better. why don't you just come out and say you are gay and you want destroy the church by changing the very beliefs that make it the church. Why not start a church for gay people the holy sign could be the penis.
Hey, everybody likes penises. Such a handy-dandy tool, and one of God's creations!
Seriously people, Christianity (followers of Christ) begins with the Catholic Church. The Church doesn't conform to the world. The world just falls from God's Church. To sit here and say that the Church needs to conform to the world is sad. In fact, sounds just like the Devil would want it! It is what it is, it's all in GOD'S hands. Athiests I don't expect you to understand but fellow Christians to talk against God and his Church is blasphemy. All I know is I will die to protect my beliefs and so will 1.2 billion others.
As for people from the U.S., Joe Biden is a fake Catholic and should not represent Catholics in any way! One can't say abortion is okay and be a TRUE Catholic. And as far as the Catholics in the Republican party, not everyone is rich so have a heart and protect those who can't help themselves. That is the way of the Lord, respect and love life!
When it comes to willingness to "die to protect my beliefs", I think you are incredibly presumptuous to speak for the entirety of Catholicism in the world, and nobody asked you to in the first place. BTW, there is no devil. Only evil humans, who are self-employed in that respect, and don't need to do the devil's work. They do it for themselves and themselves alone.