Latest news with #FrancisofAssisi
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From Peter to Linus to Francis: How do popes pick their papal names?
Kendrick Lamar once said, "If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name." It's a long way from hip hop to the Holy See, but that sentiment is something both realms have in common: Names matter, and they can help tell a person's story. Each new pope, once chosen by a conclave of the College of Cardinals, can take on a new name, one infused with meaning, history and tradition. When Jorge Bergoglio ascended to the papacy, he chose to become Pope Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th century friar who rejected his family's wealth and went to live, minister and work among the poor. Francis was the first pope from the Americas, and the first Jesuit pope. He was also the first pope to choose the name Francis. Meeting with journalists in 2013, shortly after he became pope, he explained how he settled on the name: According to the Catholic Herald, a friend, Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, "embraced me and kissed me and said, 'Don't forget the poor,' and that struck me. ... Immediately I thought of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation." Other popes have chosen names that reflected their own values, their own heritage or their own heroes. Why do popes choose new names? Not all members of Catholic religious orders change their names upon entering ministry. But for those who do, accepting or choosing a new name is symbolic of that person's new stage in life, their entry into a new community and a new way of serving God and other people. According to the Sioux Falls Bishop's Bulletin, popes began choosing new names early in the Catholic Church's history. In 533, a new pope was selected. His name, Mercurius, though, honored a Roman god, Mercury, and was considered a pagan name. He took the name of the prior pope, John, becoming John II, who'd been martyred. Still, many popes continued to keep their given names until the 10th century, when it became a more common practice for popes to choose new names. The last pope to keep his given name was Marcellus II, elected in 1555. Pope Francis gestures from a balcony while delivering an Easter Sunday message in St. Peter's Square. The pontiff died the following day. What was the first pope's name? St. Peter was the first pope, one of the twelve Apostles and the man who Catholics believe was ordained by Jesus himself. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said to the man who'd been known as Simon, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church." Catholics believe that after Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter became the earthly leader of the nascent church, spreading the Gospel and evangelizing throughout the Roman Empire. He is believed to have settled in Rome, where it's thought he was martyred around 64 AD. What papal names have been used most? John has been the most commonly chosen papal name: 23 pontiffs have taken that name. Part of the reason for that is a papal tradition of taking the name of one's predecessor. Another reason: There are dozens of Catholic saints named John (at least 126 of them, according to the Catholic news outlet Aleteia), including John the Baptist, John the Apostle (also called John the Evangelist for his work spreading Jesus' story), St. John of the Cross and St. John Damascene. Francis' predecessor, Joseph Ratzinger, chose the second-most-used papal name when he became Benedict XVI. There have also been 16 popes named Gregory. Clement, Innocent, Leo and Pius have also been used often throughout church history. Are there any names used just once? Many popes have chosen names not used before or since, including (but not limited to): Lando (who served from 913-914), Romanus (897), Formosus (9891-896), Valentine (827), Zachary (741-752), Conon (686-687), Agatho (678-681), Vitalian (657-672), Severinus (638-640), Silverius (536-537), Hormisdas (514-523), Symmachus (498-514), Simplicius (468-483), Hilarius (461-468), Mark (336-337), Dionysius (259-268), Fabian (236-250) and Linus (64-76). Peter, the first pope, was also the only one to have that name. (This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How do popes pick their papal names? What you need to know
New Straits Times
26-04-2025
- General
- New Straits Times
Pope Francis was a reformist, environmentalist and peace advocate
BY the time you read this, Jorge Bergoglio, the first pope to choose the name Francis, would have been buried. Coming from the Society of Jesus, commonly called the Jesuit Order, one would have thought the name was chosen in honour of St Francis Xavier, one of its founding members (and, coincidentally, a saint who had visited the Malay peninsula centuries ago). However, the name was chosen in honour of St Francis of Assisi. According to some reports, Pope Francis — the first Latin American pope, from Argentina — was a "divisive" figure during his 12 years as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. But, was he really divisive? Not any more than any other person, especially one in a position of leadership. Francis set about renewing the church, making some changes to the way things were done. In doing so, he earned himself some critics. Conservatives branded him too liberal. On the other hand, Francis' changes were deemed not good enough by the liberals, who demanded more. They branded him too conservative. Either way, the pope "lost". No matter what he did. After all, one cannot please everyone. Pope Francis, however, did not take things to heart. He did things his way and continued to do so, encouraged by the love and support of the vast majority of the church. He led by example. At a penitential service organised to encourage Catholics to return to Confession or Reconciliation — a vital sacrament in the Catholic Church — Francis was being escorted to his seat when he broke away, went to another priest, and made his Confession. And, like his namesake, he was a simple and humble man. Francis the saint was a man of peace, a man of poverty, a man who loved and protected creation. So was Francis the pope. He eschewed the Apostolic Palace, choosing instead to live in the Vatican guesthouse. He often rode to papal events in an old little Fiat that belonged to him instead of the big luxury vehicle owned by the Vatican. This was a man who not only was the first Latin American pope, but the first from the Americas and the first Jesuit to rise to the highest position in the Catholic Church. Yet, he lived as simply as he could. Like the saint he revered, he also had a love of all God's creations, many times advocating for the environment particularly. He dedicated his second encyclical letter, titled "Laudato si" (Latin for "Praised be"), to the climate crisis the world is going through. Above all, this was a man who loved peace, just as Francis of Assisi did in the 13th century. The pope prayed and hoped for it and always made this known to the world and its leaders. Francis died on the Monday immediately following Easter, the most important day in the Catholic calendar. He was still recovering from a bout of pneumonia that had nearly killed him. Despite this, the pope made an appearance at St Peter's Square and granted a private audience to United States Vice-President J.D. Vance. He was too weak, however, to celebrate mass, entrusting someone else to deliver his sermon. Parts of his sermon focused — yet again — on peace, from Gaza (of which he was a great advocate) to Ukraine and other parts of the world that are seeing conflict. Pope Francis' last will, perhaps, was a testament that speaks to the humility of the man. His will speaks only about the arrangements for his burial. Instead of being buried beneath St Peter's Basilica in three different coffins, one placed in another, Francis will be placed in a single coffin made of wood and lined in zinc. His remains will then be buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica outside the walls of the Vatican. This is because Francis was devoted to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and often prayed at the basilica before and after his overseas trips. His grave will be simply marked with his name — Franciscus. There will be no indication that this was a pope, the leader of 1.4 billion people. The Catholic Church has lost a humble and pious leader. The world has lost a remarkable leader. The writer is NST news editor. Keywords: News Argentina Nst Pope Francis Analysis Opinion Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church Malaysia News Society Of Jesus Related Articles
26-04-2025
- General
Pope Francis funeral updates: Funeral for Francis begins in Vatican City
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, will be buried Saturday at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old. Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century and the first to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in more than 300 years. ABC News Live streaming coverage of the funeral will begin on Saturday at 3:30 a.m. ET, while it will also air on local ABC stations and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
26-04-2025
- General
Pope Francis funeral updates: Services for pontiff set to get underway soon
Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, will be buried Saturday at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major after dying one week ago at 88 years old. Francis, who took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi, was known for his outreach to the poor and those in poverty and that will be reflected in his minimalist burial at Saint Mary Major. He is the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in over a century and the first to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in more than 300 years. ABC News Live streaming coverage of the funeral will begin on Saturday at 3:30 a.m. ET, while it will also air on local ABC stations and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.
New York Times
25-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Francis Wanted a Church of the Poor and Put It Into Practice
Throughout his papacy, Francis was an outspoken advocate for the downtrodden. Shortly after he was elected in 2013 he said, 'How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor.' But Francis, who died on Monday at 88, didn't just pay lip service. When the vehicle carrying his coffin pulls up at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he will be buried on Saturday, a group of 'poor and needy' people will be waiting on the steps, the Vatican said this week. After all, the statement added, the pope 'had chosen the name Francis to never forget them.' St. Francis of Assisi renounced his wealth to live in poverty. Marginalized groups will be present at the funeral, the Vatican said Friday. One of the first people to pay their respects when Francis was brought to St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday was Sister Geneviève Jeanningros, who until last year lived in a camper in a fairground outside Rome, serving those in need. She was in regular contact with Francis, who visited the fairground, and images of her weeping in front of his coffin moved many. Closer to his own home, Francis 'strongly supported' transforming the Vatican post office located on the right side of the colonnade of St. Peter's Square into a free medical clinic for the homeless and for undocumented migrants. The clinic opened in 2018 and averages 100 visits a day, said its director, Dr. Massimo Ralli. 'It's putting the Gospel into practice because caring for people is one of the aspects of charity,' said Dr. Ralli. 'So it absolutely mirrors the message of the Holy Father toward the least.' Showers for the homeless were set up near the clinic. This week they are closed, because tens of thousands have poured into St. Peter's to pay homage to Francis, who lies in state in the basilica. But the throngs do not seem to have caused any inconvenience to the homeless, who each night shelter under the square's majestic colonnade. Often, they use tents distributed by the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, an ancient office of papal charities to which Francis gave freer rein, under the leadership of Cardinal Conrad Krajewski. In 2019, Francis blessed a four-story Vatican property behind the left colonnade of the Basilica when he opened a shelter that provides housing for about 50 people. 'The pope has had a very strong focus on the poor from the beginning,' said Carlo Santoro of the Sant'Egidio Community, a Rome-based charity that runs the building. Francis often ate with the homeless and invited them to annual concerts at the Vatican. He was also outspoken on prison conditions, and one of his final public outings last week was to visit inmates at Rome's Regina Coeli prison. 'Francis gave immense emphasis to aid to the poor, not just the poor in Rome, but the poor around the world,' he added, citing trips by Cardinal Krajewski to take supplies to Ukraine. The most recent trip was this month. These initiatives haven't always gone down well with members of the Curia, as the Vatican administration is known. In the late 1980s, John Paul II and Mother Teresa opened a soup kitchen and dormitory for women inside the Vatican that still feeds dozens daily. Both Mr. Santoro and Dr. Ralli expressed concerns that the next pope might not have the same priorities as Francis. That is a concern, too, of Piero Di Domenicantonio, the former editor of the Vatican newspaper, the Osservatore Romano, who began publishing a monthly street newspaper by and for the homeless three years ago when he retired. 'The paper incarnates everything Pope Francis taught us about social issues and service of charity,' Mr. Di Domenicantonio said. It was inspired by him, 'and he encouraged us to continue.' Francis also promoted his message of charity in more controversial ways, commissioning a contemporary sculptor to create works representing his inclusive vision for St. Peter's Square. The latest work, by the Canadian artist Timothy P. Schmalz, was installed this month on the colonnade directly in front of the clinic. Titled 'Be Welcoming,' it depicts a person in a simple robe and sandals with a staff and angel's wings. It was put there 'to bring attention to what is behind,' Mr. Schmalz said in a telephone interview. Six years ago, Francis commissioned another work by Mr. Schmalz depicting 140 migrants and refugees from various historical periods traveling on a boat. It includes Indigenous people, the Virgin Mary and Joseph, Jews fleeing Nazi Germany and those from war-torn countries. Francis had said he had wanted the statue in St. Peter's Square 'so that all will be reminded of the evangelical challenge of hospitality.' Some critics had turned up their noses at modern works brushing up against the colonnade, designed in the 17th century by the Baroque master Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Cardinal Krajewski had retorted, 'It doesn't matter if it doesn't match the Berninis, it matches the Gospels,' according to Mr. Schmalz. 'That's the courage of Pope Francis,' Mr. Schmalz said, 'to bring the Gospels to the forefront.'
