7 Times the Pope Showed He’s Just Like Lots of Latinos We Know
El Papa Francisco is the first ever Latino Pope — aaand once you watch him for a bit, it’s pretty clear he’s a lot like our aunts, uncles, tios, tias and grandparents.
He loves fútbol and fútbol loves him.
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A die-hard fan of the Argentine national team and his hometown club San Lorenzo, Pope Francis is a hardcore fútbol fan. He’s met with Maradona, who gave him an Argentina jersey with the number 10 on the back. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi gave the Pope a plant. Former San Lorenzo and Inter Milan player, Iván Córdoba, gifted El Papa his old San Lorenzo jersey. He also has a soft spot for Italian teams: he once had a secret chat with AC Milan player Mario Balotelli.
If you don’t pick up the phone, he’s going to get up in your business.
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He once called a convent in Spain to wish the nuns a feliz año, but when they didn’t pick up, he left a message asking,”What are the nuns doing that they can’t answer the phone?”
He gets real about suegros and suegras.
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The Pope once cracked a joke saying: “What’s the difference between outlaws and inlaws? Outlaws are wanted.”
He loves showing up at places unannounced.
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You know Latinos love going around de visita without telling anyone. Last year, the pope made an unexpected visit to a children’s shelter in Manila. He left a lot of smiles that day.
He’s going to speak his mind, even if you don’t like what he says.
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During his visit to Congress, Pope Francis lowkey fired shots at anti-immigrant politicians when he said, “We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners.” Also, during a visit in Bolivia, Pope Francis straight up called money “the devil’s excrement.” No other Pope has gotten that bold before.
El señor ama la comida.
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Pope Francis told the press all he wanted was to one day be able to walk into a pizza parlor unnoticed so he could get a slice. While traveling through Italy, a local pizzeria made him a pie and handed it to him as he was carried off in the pope-mobile.
He’s always down for a hug.
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In both Brazil and Colombia, two little boys have dashed through crowds of thousands just get an ol’ abrazito from the Pope. And of course, Pope Francis obliged both of the kids with a holy hug.
