Pope Francis, the spiritual head of the Catholic Church Worldwide used to guard the gate of a bar in Argentina.
Part of the menial jobs he engaged in to make ends meet included sweeping floors and running tests at a laboratory as a teenager.
The Catholic News Service reported that the 76-year-old pontiff made the disclosures concerning his previous jobs when he paid a visit to the church of San Cirillo Alessandrino.
The church is located in a working-class neighbourhood on the outskirts of Rome.
Known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio before he was elected pope, the pontiff is reputed to have abstained from living in luxury since March this year when he became the pope.
This revelation further shows that Pope Francis is used to life as an average individual who eschews materialism.
Fox News further described the anecdote as yet another example of Pope Francis’ growing reputation as a “pope of the people,” adding that since ascending to the papacy in March, he has eschewed such trappings as the Popemobile.
He has also washed the feet of prisoners and has shown a penchant for showing up unannounced wherever the faithful gather.
Last month, photos of Francis cradling and kissing the head of a man covered with tumours went viral, providing a powerful image of a pope dedicated to helping the poor.
The pope’s popularity has renewed the interest of people in the church as a recent survey by sociologist Massimo Introvigne of the Catholic clergy in Italy showed an increase in the number attending Mass and confession since Francis’ election.
In Italy alone, more than 100,000 people have returned to the church.
Culled.
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