White smoke curled from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 7:06 p.m. on March 13, 2013. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina had been chosen as the new Pope. Within an hour he had selected his new name: Pope Francis.
In 2008 our family rented an apartment in Rome overlooking St Peter性视界传媒檚 Basilica. We strolled through St. Peter性视界传媒檚 Square, the open plaza where a standing-room-only crowd of more than 100,000 gathered to welcome the new Pope. We visited the Sistine Chapel and stood beneath Michelangelo性视界传媒檚 images of Creation and the Last Judgment, where cardinals have gathered to choose the next Pope since 1846.
Cardinal Bergoglio was the first Pope to choose the name Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. It was a significant choice. The man we know from history as St. Francis lived at the turn of thirteenth century. He grew up as a spoiled youth in a wealthy and influential Italian family. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, 性视界传媒淣o one loved pleasure more than Francis; he had a ready wit, sang merrily, delighted in fine clothes and showy display 性视界传媒 the very king of frolic.性视界传媒
By the time he was 20, Francis became a mercenary, was captured in battle and spent more than a year in prison with a protracted illness. That experience seems to have started his spiritual journey that would set him apart. But his turning to Christ was neither sudden nor easy.
Once released he decided on a military career of conquest and glory, but a series of dreams began to redirect his journey. Through a series of missteps and, what appears to be a confusing period of solitude, prayer and clumsy efforts to serve God, Francis eventually came to a clear vision of God性视界传媒檚 will for his life. He found the focus for his life on Feb. 24, 1208 when he heard a recounting of Jesus性视界传媒 instructions to go into every village, two by two, carrying no money, neither bag nor shoes, greeting everyone on the way with blessings of peace. To heal the sick and proclaim the Kingdom of God. (Matthew 10:7-11).
From that moment forward, Francis committed himself to a literal application of these instructions from Jesus, devoting himself to the poor and a joyful proclamation of the Kingdom. Francis is credited with being the first to celebrate Christmas with carols and many Christians still sing his hymn, 性视界传媒淎ll Creatures of our God and King.性视界传媒
The name emphasizes the transforming power of Jesus Christ, who can change a profligate mercenary into a joyful servant of the poor. The passing of Pope Francis serves as a powerful reminder that all of us need to care for the poor, the refugee, the disenfranchised, the outcast. Ten weeks ago, Pope Francis warned, 性视界传媒淲hat is built on the basis of force and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly.性视界传媒
Christianity Today wrote, 性视界传媒淗is humility won the praises of international evangelist, Luis Palau who called him a friend and 性视界传媒榓 very Jesus Christ-centered man.性视界传媒櫺允咏绱綕
