11 facts about Pope Francis

A normally camera-shy Pope Francis recently sat down with America magazine to answer questions about himself, his savior and the issues weighing on the Catholic Church. The following are a few of the gems unearthed from the translated version of the three-part interview conducted throughout August:

1. He is a sinner.

But his story, by the grace of God, doesn’t end there, says Pope Francis. “I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon,” he says.

1. He is a sinner saved by Jesus.

1. His motto is “Miserando atque Eligendo” — translated it means “by having mercy and choosing him.”

1. Forget “twerking.” Pope Francis has invented a better word: “mercy-ing.”

1. He is undisciplined by nature but was drawn to the Jesuits — or “Society of Jesus” — because of their emphasis on 1) “the missionary spirit”  2) community and 3) discipline.

1. He is a trusting pope.

[W]hen I entrust something to someone, I totally trust that person. He or she must make a really big mistake before I rebuke that person.

1. He believes consulting those around him is key to church government.

[A]s Archbishop of Buenos Aires, I had a meeting with the six auxiliary bishops every two weeks, and several times a year with the council of priests. They asked questions and we opened the floor for discussion. This greatly helped me to make the best decisions.

1. The pope believes perseverance in the face of struggle is sanctifying.

I see the holiness,” the pope continues, “in the patience of the people of God: a woman who is raising children, a man who works to bring home the bread, the sick, the elderly priests who have so many wounds but have a smile on their faces because they served the Lord, the sisters who work hard and live a hidden sanctity.

1. He views the church as a safe haven.

I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars!

1. He believes churchgoers want someone to walk with them in their sufferings and to guide them.

The people of God want pastors, not clergy acting like bureaucrats or government officials. The bishops, particularly, must be able to support the movements of God among their people with patience, so that no one is left behind. But they must also be able to accompany the flock that has a flair for finding new paths.

1. He believes abortion, gay marriage and contraception are issues that should be addressed but that they often overshadow the gospel message.

[W]hen we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context. The teaching of the church, for that matter, is clear and I am a son of the church, but it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time …

… We have to find a new balance; otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel. The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant. It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow.

Click here to read the full interview with Pope Francis.