Happy Birthday Pope Francis. He turns 87 today. Born in Argentina as Jorge Bergoglio. Ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. Consecrated Bishop June 27, 1992. Created as Cardinal February 21, 2001. Elected Pope on March 13, 2013.
Just this week he announced that he would like to be buried at St. Mary Major’s basilica, close to his favorite image of Salus Populi Romani. Maria Salus Populi Romani (Saint Mary, Health of the Roman People) is an ancient icon measures five feet in height and three and a quarter feet in width (117 x 79 cm). It arrived from Crete in 590 AD during the Pontificate of Pope Gregory the Great and was placed in the Roman Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
He has visited this church over 100 times so far, every time he travels, before and after his trip. 6 other Popes are buried there, including Pope St. Pius V, the Dominican Pope who introduced the white cassock of a Pope, especially after a few hot summers 400 years ago, and since the Dominicans wear white, he felt it was a little bit cooler than the black cassock that priests use. Pope Francis hinted that he may be able to visit his homeland of Argentina sometime next year, besides a few other places he mentioned in various interviews. Ad Multos Annos Papa Francesco !
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