47 things to know about Pope Francis and the Vatican

Pope Francis visits the UAE on February 3-5 and will celebrate mass in Abu Dhabi

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Among other highlights, read on to discover more about the leader of the Catholic Church's early career as a night club bouncer and how the world's smallest state makes money.

1. Pope Francis is the first from the Americas

Born in Argentina in 1936, Pope Francis - christened Jorge Mario Bergoglio - was the first from Argentina, the Americas and the southern hemisphere.

2. But he has Italian heritage

The young Jorge was born to Italian parents, who immigrated to Argentina. His father was an accountant employed by the railways, while his mother raised five children.

3. He had a lung removed as a young man

At the age of 21, Pope Francis reportedly had part of his right lung removed due to an infection, which might have contributed to back problems he has today.

4. God opened a door for him

Pope Francis said that his calling to be a priest caught him off guard. He knew he had to enter the priesthood after he stopped off at a church on his way to join friends on a holiday. "It surprised me, caught me with my guard down," he told the authors of Pope ­Francis: ­Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio. "That is the religious experience: the astonishment of meeting someone who has been waiting for you all along."

5. Chemist, bouncer, priest and literature teacher

He graduated as a chemical technician, had a brief career as a nightclub bouncer, but then chose the path of the priesthood, entering the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto in Argentina before continuing his studies in Chile. After that, he continued to study in philosophy. From 1964 to 1966 he taught literature and psychology, and between 1967 to 1970 he studied theology.

6. 'Do not come to Rome, donate the money instead'

Between 1969 and 2001 Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Father Bergoglio, rising up the ranks of the Jesuit church. When he was made Cardinal San Roberto Bellarmino in 2001, he asked his followers not to come to Rome to celebrate, but instead to donate what they would have spent on the journey to the poor.

7. He insists on a frugal lifestyle

As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he reportedly cooked his own meals, took the bus to work and lived in a small apartment.

8. 'Who am I to judge?'

Pope Francis' humility extends beyond his frugal life. His time as Pope has been characterised by the phrase "Who am I to judge?", a sign of his acceptance of those who do not share his beliefs. It has been his answer in some form to questions about divorce and homosexuality.

9. The first Jesuit Pope

When he was elected Supreme Pontiff in March 2013, Pope Francis broke records. He was the first Jesuit Pope, the first Pope from the Southern Hemisphere, Americas, Argentina and the first non-European pontiff for more than 1,000 years.

10. The first of his name

While there have been 21 Pope Johns, 17 Pope Benedicts and 16 Pope Gregorys, there has only been one Pope Francis. He took his name from St Francis of Assisi because of his focus on loving the poor, he said on his inauguration

11. He is the second Pope to use Twitter

Only the second Pope to have access to Twitter, Pope Francis regularly keeps the Catholic faithful informed under the handle @Pontifex. His predecessor, Pope Benedict was the pontiff when the social media site was first launched.

12. He has his own Popemojis

Ahead of a visit to the United States in 2015, a Catholic network teamed up with a media company to release their own popemojis. Some 52 papal stickers and 14 animated GIFs shows Pope Francis enjoying New York sights, flying across the Atlantic and hanging his head out of a yellow taxi.

Popemoji from Swyft Media. Courtesy Swyft Media
Popemoji gifs from Swyft Media. Courtesy Swyft Media

13. He is a die-hard football fan

Pope Francis is a longtime fan of Argentine side San Lorenzo, which was named after a Catholic priest and has the nickname Los Santos (the Saints).

14. He was elected in unusual circumstances

Pope Francis was elected following the resignation of Pope Benedict – the first pontiff to resign since 1415. Shortly after his inauguration, Pope Francis met Pope Benedict, the first time a sitting pontiff had met his predecessor in the history of the church, it said.

15. But almost elected eight years earlier

Pope Francis reportedly received the second-most votes in the 2005 papal election, in which Pope Benedict was elected.

16. He is sympathetic towards migrants

Pope Francis has spoken out on the cause of migrants, recently calling for Italy and Malta to cease bickering over 49 migrants on two ships in the Mediterranian.

17. He is rebranding the conservative face of the Church

Pope Francis has made it his personal mission to rebrand the face of the Catholic Church. The pontiff has pushed for climate change reform, better treatment of minorities and refugees and more attention to the persecution of religious minorities. In December Pope Francis met Nobel Prize winner Nadia Murad.

This handout picture taken and released by Vatican Media on December 20, 2018 shows Pope Francis (L) meeting Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad (C) and human rights activist Abid Shamdeen (R) at the Vatican. (Photo by Handout / VATICAN MEDIA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / VATICAN MEDIA" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---
Pope Francis meeting Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad at the Vatican. AFP

18. Time Magazine's person of 2013

In the year he was inaugurated Pope Francis was named Time's person of the year. "The first non-European pope in 1,200 years is poised to transform a place that measures change by the century," the magazine said at the time, branding him "the people's pope."

This image obtained December 11, 2013 courtesy of TIME Magazine shows the 2013 Person of the Year cover with Pope Francis. Time magazine on Wednesday named Pope Francis its person of the year, saying that in nine months in office the head of the Catholic Church had become a new voice of conscience. "For pulling the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, for committing the world's largest church to confronting its deepest needs and for balancing judgment with mercy, Pope Francis is TIME's 2013 Person of the Year," wrote managing editor Nancy Gibbs."Rarely has a new player on the world stage captured so much attention so quickly -- young and old, faithful and cynical -- as Pope Francis. AFP PHOTO/TIME MAGAZINE/JASON SEILER/HANDOUT  = RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / TIME MAGAZINE / JASON SEILER /HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS = (Photo by JASON SEILER / TIME / AFP)
"For pulling the papacy out of the palace and into the streets, for committing the world's largest church to confronting its deepest needs and for balancing judgment with mercy, Pope Francis is TIME's 2013 Person of the Year," wrote managing editor Nancy Gibbs. AFP Photo

19. Revolutionary on LGBT issues

Shortly after his inauguration, Pope Francis indicated a softening of the church on issues of homosexuality. "If a homosexual person is of good will and is in search of God, I am no one to judge."

20. On the cusp of retirement

Before being elected pontiff, Pope Francis was preparing for retirement. In 2011 he handed in his letter of resignation and had even picked out a retirement home in his hometown where he would live out the rest of his life.

21. First pope to visit Myanmar

Pope Francis was the first pontiff to visit Myanmar, a majority Buddhist country, laying another landmark in interfaith co-operation.

Pope Francis waves to Myanmar catholics prior to an open air mass in Yangon on November 29, 2017. - Pope Francis is to hold mass in Yangon with tens of thousands of Myanmar Catholics expected to pack into a stadium for the landmark event (Photo by Roberto SCHMIDT / AFP)
The popemobile transports Pope Francis through Myanmar on the first ever papal visit to the country. AFP

22. He has his own unique mode of transport: the Popemobile

The Pope has a special way of getting around while he is travelling the world. The popemobile, an open-top or glass-roofed car, allows the pope to greet the faithful while travelling around the world.

In the past the popemobile has been supplied by SEAT, Fiat and Jeep.

23. ...And gave away the opportunity for a better set of wheels

When Pope Francis was given a custom-built Lamborghini Huracan coupe, he decided not to trade in the popemobile. Instead, the pontiff signed the car and put it up for auction. When a first sale fell through, the pope launched a raffle, the proceeds of which will go to rebuilding villages "devastated by violence and war, assist victims of human trafficking, provide medical care and education to those living in poverty."

24. An independent state dedicated to the Catholic faith

The Vatican is a sovereign state in the heart of Rome, ruled by the Holy See, the official term for the state's governing body.

The Holy See has permanent non-member observer status within the United Nations, the same status as Palestine.

25. It is the smallest country in the world

Spanning just 0.44 kilometres squared, it is the smallest country in the world, followed by Monaco. It is just an eighth of the size of New York's Central Park.

26. It is the home of some of the most famous art in the world

From the Sistine Chapel, with an iconic ceiling beautifully painted by Michaelangelo, through paintings by Raphael, Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci, through to St Peter's Basilica which houses sculptures and painting to inspire awe, the Vatican is one of the world's art hubs.

A journalist pictures the Sisitne Chapel with its new lighting during a press visit at the Vatican on October 29, 2014. The Vatican presented the LED lighting in the Sistine Chapel to illuminate the ceiling frescos. It also enstalled a new air-conditioning system and it's planning to put a limit on the number of visitors allowed in. This room where popes have been elected since the mid-15th century is visited by 6 million tourists a year to marvel at Michelangelo’s ceiling and his depiction of the Last Judgment on the altar wall.    AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE / MUSEI VATICANI
RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / FILIPPO MONTEFORTE  © MUSEI VATICANI" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP)
The Sistine Chapel, where popes have been elected since the mid-15th century is visited by 6 million tourists a year to marvel at Michelangelo’s ceiling and his depiction of the Last Judgment on the altar wall. AFP

27. Stamps, souvenirs and museum entry

In lieu of any space for farming, manufacturing or industry, the Vatican's economy is supported by pilgrims and tourists spending money in the capital.

28. Officially Latin-speaking

The Vatican is the only country in the world in which Latin is the official language. Italian is also an official language, for obvious reasons.

29. One of two countries with no laws for divorce 

The Philippines is the only other country with no laws for divorce.

30. Also a UNESCO heritage site

It is the only country in the world which is also a UNESCO heritage site

31. St Peter's Basilica is very very big

Some 400 feet tall and 138 feet wide, St Peter's Basilica is the largest Catholic Church in the world and second-largest Christian Church.

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - MARCH 31:  (EDITORS NOTE: Image was created using a variable planed lens.)  A general view of St Peter's Basilica as Pope Francis delivers Mass prior to his first 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica during Easter Mass on March 31, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Francis delivered his message to the gathered faithful from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in St. Peter's Square after his first Holy week as Pontiff.  (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
A general view of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Getty

32. A country with no GDP

The Vatican does not produce anything for trade, therefore has no GDP

33. Star gazing...in Arizona

The Vatican owns an advanced telescope in Arizona in the United States

34. The Pope's personal protection...

The Pope and the Vatican City is protected by the Pontifical Swiss Guard, a small army of just 135, which has been protecting the pontiff for more than 500 years.

35. ...and their funky uniforms

They are dressed in distinctive blue, red, orange and yellow Renaissance uniforms and use a mix of traditional weapons and modern firearms.

VATICAN CITY, VATICAN - APRIL 04:  Members of the Swiss Guards patrol before Pope Francis meets Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on April 4, 2017 in Vatican City, Vatican.  (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Members of the Swiss Guards patrol in Vatican City. Getty Images

36. A serious protection role

Following an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in 1981, the Swiss Guard have had to focus on their protection role, not just ceremonial ones.

All of the Swiss Guards have completed their Swiss Army basic training and are men between the age of 19 and 30.

37. More than five million visitors

The Vatican's museums welcome more than five million visitors each year...that's five thousand times its tiny population.

38. No prisons, no hospitals

The Vatican doesn't have any hospitals or prisons, meaning if you are injured or arrested, you're extradited across the border to Italy.

39. Vatican FC

The Vatican has its own football team, although you're unlikely to see them in a World Cup any time soon.

40. Head of the Roman Catholic Church

The pope, or pontiff, is the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

This handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office on March 12, 2013 shows the doors of the Sistine chapel being closed by Guido Marini at the start of a papal election. Cardinals began a conclave under Michelangelo's famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor to Benedict XVI, with the odds favouring another Western conservative as pope. AFP PHOTO/OSSERVATORE ROMANO  RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT ���AFP PHOTO/OSSERVATORE ROMANO"  ADDITIONAL CROPPED VERSION (Photo by - / OSSERVATORE ROMANO / AFP)
Cardinals begin a conclave under Michelangelo's famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel to elect a successor to Benedict XVI. AFP

41. A unique electoral process

The pope is elected in a conclave, a gathering of 120 cardinals, under the age of 80 who travel to Rome to vote on the new pope.

Upon arrival in Rome, the cardinals will discuss among each other the merits of each candidate under strict secrecy. They don't have to pick one of the present cardinals, but history indicates they almost always do.

Campaigning is forbidden, but coalitions build over about two weeks before all of the cardinals are locked away in a highly secretive process.

Cardinals must reach a two-thirds majority and no contact is allowed with the outside work, including newspapers, televisions and mobile phones.

42. White smoke

Ballots are cast in absolute secrecy. Cardinals write the name of their candidate on square papers with the words "Eligio in Summum Pontificem" (I elect as Supreme Pontiff) written at the top.

The papers are then burned, giving off smoke which turns from black to white once a new pope has been chosen.

43. A job for life

Once elected, generally a pontiff will only cease being pope when he dies. But in 2013 Pope Benedict took the unusual step of abdicating, setting in motion a new conclave.

44. Has been as young as 18

An archetypal pope is generally an ageing man, but they do not have to be. The youngest pope was Pope John XII who was thought to be 18 years old when elected, while the oldest was Pope Clement X who was nearly 80 when he became pontiff.

45. The Pope doesn't own anything

Under the custodianship of the Church, the Pope doesn't actually own anything. It is all provided by the Church.

In this handout picture released by the Vatican Press Office, Pope Francis performs the foot-washing ritual at the Castelnuovo di Porto refugees center near Rome on March 24, 2016. Pope Francis washed the feet of 11 young asylum seekers and a worker at their reception centre to highlight the need for the international community to provide shelter to refugees. - Several of the asylum seekers, one holding a baby in her arms, were reduced to tears as the 79-year-old pontiff kneeled before them, pouring water over their feet, drying them with a towel and bending to kiss them. (Photo by STR / OSSERVATORE ROMANO / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / OSSERVATORE ROMANO" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
Pope Francis washed the feet of 11 young asylum seekers and a worker at their reception centre to highlight the need for the international community to provide shelter to refugees. AFP

46. Washing the feet of sinners

Each Thursday before Easter – the Christian feast marking the death of Jesus – the Pope washes the feet of people have committed crimes or sinned in some way.

While previously this referred only to Christian male sinners, in recent years it has started to include women and people of other faiths, including for the first time in 2013, Muslim prisoners in Rome.

47. Only men...apart from Pope Joan

In order to be a pope you have to be a man, but a Medieval legend tells of Pope Joan, a woman who reigned as pope during the Middle Ages.

Most versions of the legend say she is an educated woman who disguised herself as a man.

Unfortunately, the tale is thought to be fictional by most modern scholars.