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Pope Francis was known for his humanitarian work and his bold opinions. Sometimes he caused controversy with his relatively liberal points of view.

But what was the pontiff really like and how was his life before he became head of the Catholic church?

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Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He chose the name Francis as a tribute to Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of Italy. He was the 266th leader of the Catholic Church.

▲Before he followed a religious path, Pope Francis performed chemical tests in a lab, worked as a janitor in a factory, was a security guard, and taught literature. Years later, he earned degrees in chemistry and philosophy.

▲He built his ecclesiastical career in Argentina, but also studied in Chile and Germany for brief periods.

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He was a huge fan of the Argentinian soccer club San Lorenzo, and his membership card is the proof!

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Jorge Mario Bergoglio was raised in the neighborhood of Flores, home to the San Lorenzo team. His father played basketball for San Lorenzo.

▲When the San Lorenzo soccer team won the Argentinian championship, they gave Pope Francis a replica of the trophy that they received.

▲He had a girlfriend before he followed God's calling. He even proposed to her when they were just 12!

▲Pope Francis was the first Jesuit Pope, the first non-European Pope since the 18th century, and the first to replace a Pope who stepped down in over 600 years.

▲When Pope Benedict XVI stepped down in 2013, something unprecedented happened in the history of the Catholic church: an encounter between two Popes.

▲Pope Francis was elected in March 2013. The process took over 27 hours and included four ballots.

▲Jorge Mario Bergoglio ranked second in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI to replace Pope John Paul II.

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He liked to cook his own food, as his mother taught him when he was a child.

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The pontiff used to travel with just a small overnight bag and he carried it himself. He once said he usually carried a knife, a notebook, and a book about Mother Theresa.

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He was a wine-lover and he loved mate, a herbal infusion that is very popular in South America.

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He was a fan of the Argentinian tango singer Carlos Gardel.

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Pope Francis was an avid reader and a lover of poetry. He revealed that he was a fan of Russian writer Fiodór Dostoiévski and Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges.

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Pope Francis loved animals, especially birds, and even had some bird pets of his own. His sister has said that when he was younger he taught his parrot how to swear!

▲In 2001, Jorge Mario Bergoglio washed the feet of 12 AIDS patients at an asylum in Argentina.

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He was known for leading a simple lifestyle. He lived in a 70 sq m apartment in the Vatican and he didn't appreciate when his cardinals opted for unnecessary luxuries.

▲When he was a priest in Argentina, he would use public transportation.

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The pontiff had been living with one lung since he was 21. The other was removed because of an infection.

▲He told fellow countrymen not to travel to Rome to celebrate his appointment as Pope, but to instead donate the money that they would spend to charities.

▲Pope Francis was already popular when he was made cardinal in 2001. He auctioned his old motorcycle and a Harley-Davidson leather jacket, both signed by him.

▲The managed to raise US$326,000 in the auction, and the money went to a homeless shelter in Rome.

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Mario Bergoglio spoke Spanish, Italian, and German.

▲He was criticized in Argentina for allegedly supporting the military regime that was in power in the 1970s and '80s.

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He looked playful in this top hat in June 2016!

▲The pontiff was given yet another hat when he visited Panama in July 2016.

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Pope Francis had his face on stamps after 2013 World Youth Day in Brazil!