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If you didn’t know, Pope Francis is the first in the game to do it!

Well, not exactly. Technically he’s the 266th Pope to ever do it, but he’s the first to carry the name Francis.

PHOTOS: White Smoke! Meet The New Pope, Habemum Papam Bergoglio, Voted By The Roman Catholic Cardinals

And before the 76-year-old was Francis, he was Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Which makes him the first non-European Pope to ever do it. 

So technically, when the white smoke billowed from the Vatican chimney yesterday to signal his arrival to the game, it meant that Pope Francis was going to go down in history, regardless of what he does with his papacy.

VIDEO: 10 WorldStarHipHop Videos To Show The Pope That Ratchetness Is Very Real! 

But being the first isn’t the only reason the newest pope has people screaming like he’s Justin Bieber. Didn’t see? Exhibit A:


After all, he is the Pope. And he’s also pretty dope. But besides his “cool” factor, here are some things you probably didn’t know about Pope Francis, aka The First To Ever Do It…

He’s super modest

Yeah, he has bragging rights, but Pope Francis isn’t even the flashy type. In fact, he’s so modest that in 2001, after becoming cardinal, Bergoglio “discouraged people from spending the money to fly to Rome to celebrate with him and advised that they instead donate the funds to help alleviate poverty at home.” He didn’t even want the crowds! He’s also lived in a simple apartment, cooked his own food and traveled on public transportation instead of the chauffeured limousine that was issued to him. Definition of keeping it real…

Another bonus? The pontiff broke tradition by refusing to use a platform to elevate himself above the cardinals standing with him as he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis. He said he would “stay down here” so he could meet all the cardinals on their level. Well played Francis…well played.

He loves to dance

No, I didn’t stutter. Popes can dance too. “I like the tango a lot, and when I was young I used to dance it,” he said in a 2010 biography about him called El Jesuita. He gave up tangoing when he gave up girls and “discovered my religious vocation.” Too bad, we would have loved to see him kick it on the dance floor.

He’s free spirited, friendly and a great listener…according to his zodiac sign

Yep…he runs with the best of ’em. Pope Francis was born on Dec. 17, 1936. That would make him half human, half man…a Sagittarius, just like Jay-Z. I’m just saying…they both have big followings. 

There’s a good reason he named himself “Francis”

And no, it’s not because no other pope has done it. But that is why Pope Francis doesn’t have numerals behind his name like John Paul II or Benedict XVI. However, the real reason he chose Francis was to honor St. Francis of Assisi, an admirer of nature and a servant to the poor and destitute.

St. Francis of Assisi was born the son of a rich cloth merchant. But he lived in rags among beggars at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. And the new Pope is all about modesty and supporting the poor. It all comes full circle, you see?

And speaking of the poor

He can’t just talk the talk. Pope Francis already lives up to his name by focusing on helping the poor throughout his career, noting, “The suffering of innocent and peaceful continues to slap us, the contempt for the rights of individuals and peoples are so far away, the rule of money with his demonic effects as drugs, corruption, trafficking people, including children, along with material and moral poverty are big problems.”

But don’t get it twisted…he still has fun!

Like most Argentines, the new Pope is an avid soccer fan. So much so that he is a card-carrying member of the Buenos Aires’ San Lorenzo club. Yep, the Pope is clearly just like the common man. 

Luck, magic or a religious miracle?

I don’t know what it is about him, but Pope Francis has got the magic touch. First of all, he wasn’t even one of the first in the running to become Pope! Then, the day his papacy was announced (March 13, 2013) Argentina’s winning lottery number coincided with the four last numbers of his soccer membership. Remember, he’s obsessed with the Argentine soccer team, San Lorenzo de Almagro. Coincidence? Whatever it is, it’s a clear sign to some Catholics that they can trust this man.


His language game is proper

Besides his native Spanish, the new Pope also speaks Italian and German.

But then there’s this:

Every good man has some skeletons in his closet. For Pope Francis, that comes in the form of the criticism he is getting from his conservative stance and his background. Take a look…

Pope Francis says same-sex marriage is “a scheme to destroy God’s plan” 

He’s not much different from Pope Benedict XVI when it comes to his conservative views. But in a changing world, that could pose a problem for Francis. 

In fact, when he was just Bergoglio, his church teachings were said to be the most conservative in Latin America! In 2010, for instance, Bergoglio stated that same-sex adoption is a form of discrimination against children and has said that same-sex marriage is “a scheme to destroy God’s plan” and “a real and dire anthropological throwback.” Whoa…


He has a questionable past that involves “kidnapping”

Believe it or not. Francis was accused of the 1976 kidnapping of two liberal Jesuit priests, but he denied the charge. Critics also accuse him of failing to stand up publicly against the country’s military dictatorship from 1976-1983. Yikes!

All in all, Pope Francis proves to be an interesting character. Only time will tell what he brings during his papacy, but any man who wears a decked out gold and burgundy robe, tango dances, and has the 411 on lottery numbers is good in our books.

Just kidding…

SOURCE: Think Progress | CNN | Buzzfeed

PHOTO SOURCE: Getty