2013-12-13 15:49:24

Pope a priest for 44 years


December 13, 2013 - Friday, Dec. 13 was the 44th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Pope Francis. Archbishop Ramón José Castellano of Cordoba, Argentina, ordained Jorge Mario Bergoglio a priest for the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, on 13 December 1969. The future Pope was born in Buenos Aires on 17 December 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. He graduated as a chemical technician and then chose the path of the priesthood, entering the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. On 11 March 1958 he entered the Jesuit novitiate and completed his studies of the humanities in Chile and returned to Argentina in 1963 to graduate with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel. From 1964 to 1965 he taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé and in 1966 he taught the same subject at the Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires. From 1967-70 he studied theology and obtained a degree from the Colegio of San José. After his ordination in 1963, he continued his training at the University of Alcalá de Henares, Spain, 1970-’71, and on 22 April 1973 made his final profession with the Jesuits.
As a priest he served in various capacities, such as novice master, professor, parish priest, provincial, rector as well as spiritual director and confessor. On 20 May 1992 Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary of Buenos Aires, and was consecrated bishop on 27 May. He was later made Coadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and succeeded as its archbishop on 28 February 1998, on the death of Cardinal Quarracino. Three years later at the Consistory of 21 February 2001, Pope John Paul II created him Cardinal. Twelve years later, on 13 March, 2013, he was elected Pope.








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