His humility was his strongest characteristic and Christian’s and non Christians loved him for it. He was a tradition breaker. He refused to live in the Pope’s palatial apartments and lived in more humble surroundings in an older part of the Vatican. He wore poorly fitted garments.
He was a ground breaker. A Jesuit, the first one to be a Pope, the first outside the Vatican to become Pope and the first Latin American to become Pope. He started discussions on many thorny church issues including women as priests, and coverup of sexual abuse by members of the clergy.
Despite his failing health , he made a trip to Canada in 2020 to formally apologize to the Aboriginal tribes for the cultural genocide and physical and sexual abuse they were subjected to at the church run government residential schools. He was part of the path to true reconciliation.
His heart always remained with the poor in the barrios where he spent his time as a young priest. He was the breath of fresh air the Vatican needed to make it more relevant in this century. An amazing man. May he rest in peace.
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