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Before the fame, Pope Francis was a boy from Buenos Aires, living in poverty and political unrest. After years of studying science and medicine, in 1956, he has a sudden epiphany that his place is in the church. After 12 years of studying, Jorge is now a priest and climbing the ranks. But when a priest is murdered, it is clear the role of the priests in politics has changed.
National Geographic has presented to the people a cameo of the life of Pope Francis, his early years and his rise to the ultimate position in the Roman Catholic Church – the papacy. Francis is shown as a very pleasant, outgoing young man who is studying to be a doctor. His mother is very pleased that this will give her family status and standing in the community. After some time however, Francis realizes that his calling is to the church and this breaks his mother’s heart. As a result, she refuses to take him to the seminary but eventually, their differences are resolved.
Argentina, at that particular time in its history, was a very troubled country. It had been taken over by a military coup and the dictatorship that followed was dreadful. Thousands of people were taken but only a handful were returned and the deaths and torture endured by the Argentinian people, were a crime against humanity. Certain priests under Francis took to living with the poor, and tending to them in the streets. The inevitable happened and two of his priests were taken, this was something he knew could happen and he tried to stop them tending to people in their homes as many of them were considered rebels. What followed was very harrowing and the torture endured, was horrific. Eventually, they were released but were never the same again.
Gradually, the circumstances that he lives in, triggers a change in him, from a very strict figure with authority over his priests, to that of a rebel. The lessons he learned in Argentina, created an incredible background to this man. The change he takes to the hallowed halls of the Vatican. One can only wonder what God has called him to do. “Rebel Pope” is much too brief to tell the full story of Pope Francis but maybe one day, we will get the entire story. Highly recommended.
Now available on DVD
