I’m pretty sure this is the first time The Source has excerpted the National Catholic Reporter, but here’s an interesting graph from their profile today of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, who is now Pope Francis I:
Bergoglio’s reputation for personal simplicity also exercised an undeniable appeal – a Prince of the Church who chose to live in a simple apartment rather than the archbishop’s palace, who gave up his chauffeured limousine in favor of taking the bus to work, and who cooked his own meals.
The riding the bus factoid is being widely reported by the media. I did a quick perusal of Google but haven’t found a photo. If you know of one, please leave a comment with a link and I’ll add it to this post. UPDATE: Here’s a photo posted on Facebook that appears to be the real thing.
Categories: Transportation Headlines, Transportation News
The photo is actually Bergoglio on the Buenos Aires Metro, and not a bus… https://twitter.com/catolicos_es/status/311961395958800384/photo/1
He rode the bus, streetcar and the Metro in Buenos Aires.
Here’s an interesting fact: The Pacific Electric Railway sold a number of its retired Red Cars to Buenos Aires, Argentina in the late 1950s after they were de-commissioned here. So it’s quite possible that the new Pope, in his younger years, rode the Big Red Cars!
The Facebook page linked below has a picture of Pope Francis on a Buenos Aires bus. Looks authentic.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hostaria-Antica-Roma/65114880631
Thanks for the link!
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source