10 MINUTES WITH MIKE OKRI

Mike Okri is one artiste whose loud presence in the Nigerian music scene positively impacted and turned-around the music stage in the 1990s and early 2000.  Albeit his relocation to the United States of America, his songs, most of which remain evergreen (e.g. Time Na Money, Omoge, Rhumba Dance, etc.) are still being enjoyed by old and young generations of Nigerians.

In a very brief interview with Splendid! Magazine he spoke about music, and his plan to establish a massive entertainment empire in Nigeria.

You departed Nigeria just when everyone was enjoying your music and looking forward to having more from you. You were doing well with you career. What informed your relocation?

Thank you for having me on this interview Vwede.

Nothing I could say particularly prompted my relocation. I could say I was spirit-driven to make that change and have no regrets.

What happened to your music? Did your relocation affect your music?

Nothing has changed about my music. What happened is that my being outside the shores has made me a better artist/musician. Though some could see it differently, having not been physically present. But remember, I was one of the pioneers who started what the young artists are doing today.

The only difference is that what they are selling now, lack depth and hold no brighter future for the industry. Hence, I could admit that the absence of the likes of me has affected the music of our golden dreams. That is why we must all come back to contribute our quota and/or start where we left off to build an evergreen bridge across a murky swampy cacophonous riffs and rhythms we parade as music in Nigeria these days. (No offence please. My opinion).

What has life been like outside Nigeria?

Life has been good with family and my desire for little gigs here and there. Not big time though, I just like globe-trotting if you ask me... (smiles). After all, I don't need to also worry about the fact that we don't have regular electricity, pipe borne water and even security in  Nigeria like we do in the U.S here... (giggles).

How would you rate the Nigeria music industry?

Like I said before, we need brace ourselves for tougher times ahead. We need more creativity to meet greater challenges and not just being mere copy-cats. We need to be originators of music that would last a lifetime. However, I duff my hat for a few young folks (producers and singers without mentioning names) who are working hard to preserve a true Nigerian music legacy.

What do you miss the most in Nigeria? Why?

At the moment I couldn't say I miss anything. I only believe that if my ways are ordered by God, He would direct my steps coming home to contribute my quota in his own due time. Truly, I’d be glad to want to come and add more spice and possibly choose a better musical path for our youths to tread and embrace.

Any advice for younger generation of Nigerian musicians?

My advice is that, anything that is worth doing, is worth doing well. If you as a youth is not cut out to be an artist, don't force your way doing it, only to miss your divine destiny. Besides, there's no short cut to anything. Get educated to better understand your bearing and also add value to yourself and what you do.

Looking back, if given another opportunity, what would you do differently.  Why?

Looking back? Looking back to where? Let me ask you, who can turn back the hand of a divine clock as ordained by God? Listen, what is done is done and cannot revert. Opportunities come and go. You can only give account of those within your grasp. You know what we all should be grateful for? That we are alive and still breathing to testify of what is to come. So to answer your question, as long as God still keeps me alive, I know I still have so much to give in the near future, musically...to God be the glory...(laughs).

Do you have intentions of permanently relocating to Nigeria? If yes, when?

Yes, I come home every year. So my desire is to come and establish an empire that will help build a formidable entertainment industry. It takes the divine favour and grace of the Almighty God and money and not just mere word. Thank you.... 

WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND

An Inspirational Story

By David Oserhumu Okeregbe

In 1892 at Stanford University.

An 18-year-old student was struggling to pay his fees. He was an orphan, and not knowing where to turn for money, he came up with a bright idea. He and a friend decided to host a musical concert on campus to raise money for their education.

They reached out to the great pianist Ignacy J. Paderewski. His manager demanded a guaranteed fee of $2000 for the piano recital. A deal was struck and the boys began to work to make the concert a success.

Ignacy Paderewski

Herbert Hoover

The big day arrived. But unfortunately, they had not managed to sell enough tickets. The total collection was only $1600. Disappointed, they went to Paderewski and explained their plight. They gave him the entire $1600, plus a cheque for the balance $400. They promised to honour the cheque at the soonest possible.

“No,” said Paderewski. “This is not acceptable.” He tore up the cheque, returned the $1600 and told the two boys: “Here’s the $1600. Please deduct whatever expenses you have incurred. Keep the money you need for your fees. And just give me whatever is left”. The boys were surprised, and thanked him profusely.
It was a small act of kindness. But it clearly marked out Paderewski as a great human being.

Why should he help two people he did not even know? We all come across situations like these in our lives. And most of us only think “If I help them, what would happen to me?” The truly great people think, “If I don’t help them, what will happen to them?” They don’t do it expecting something in return. They do it because they feel it’s the right thing to do.

Paderewski later went on to become the Prime Minister of Poland. He was a great leader, but unfortunately when the World War began, Poland was ravaged. There were more than 1.5 million people starving in his country, and no money to feed them. Paderewski did not know where to turn for help. He reached out to the US Food and Relief Administration for help.

He heard there was a man called Herbert Hoover — who later went on to become the US President. Hoover agreed to help and quickly shipped tons of food grains to feed the starving Polish people.

A calamity was averted. Paderewski was relieved. He decided to go across to meet Hoover and personally thank him. When Paderewski began to thank Hoover for his noble gesture, Hoover quickly interjected and said, “You shouldn’t be thanking me Mr. Prime Minister. You may not remember this, but several years ago, you helped two young students go through college. I was one of them.”

The world is a wonderful place. What goes around comes around, please help others, God will definitely help you.

OLOMU: WHERE IT’S TABOO FOR PREGNANT WOMEN TO DIE

• Corpses thrown into evil forest to avoid reincarnation

• What bereaved families do

• Corpses of suicide, drowning, accident victims dumped in bush

By Akpokona Omafuaire

Corpses are supposed to be buried after death. That is the norm. But not so at Olomu Kingdom in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria. Here, not all corpses are buried, according to their cultures and tradition.

Pregnant women who die with pregnancy or during childbirth are not buried, instead their corpses are thrown into the evil forest near Akperhe-Olomu Community within the kingdom. It is a taboo for a woman to die with pregnancy as it is their belief that if given proper burial, the dead woman will reincarnate, hence the people do everything to prevent her reincarnation.

“Deaths from such circumstances are classified as bad deaths and such corpses are not given proper burial by not being buried in the town”, says His Royal Majesty, Ovie Richard L.

Ogbon, Ogoni-Oghoro I, JP, the Ohworode of Olomu, who is also the oldest person (Okpako-Orere) of Ogoni-Olomu.

The traditional ruler explains further that such deaths are taken that way because of their belief in the reincarnation of women who died from such circumstances.

“It is our belief that women who died in such manners, if buried in town or specifically at home, will reincarnate. In the times of old, there were cases where new-born babies had marks of women who had died from such deaths. This is why we don’t bury them at home to avoid reincarnation.”

In addition to dead pregnant women, the traditional ruler adds that “when someone in a family have mental illness, epilepsy or other disease that are genetical in the family, if such a person is not treated properly or cured and he or she dies with such infirmities, it is also our belief that such people reincarnate by being born as children, and it is usually shameful to the family.”

Such practices, he adds, are also applicable to people who died by suicide, in accidents, or from drowning. Interestingly, those who die in such circumstances are buried in the bush as there are no designated places for such people in Olomu Kingdom, except the women who died with pregnancies, whose corpses are taken to the evil forest, according to the traditional ruler.

Decline in belief, practice

The advent of Christianity has led to trampling upon many native cultures and tradition. Therefore, certain Olomu practices of old which were revered and complied with have been compromised with increasing Western culture through education.

According to Ogoni-Oghoro I, though certain cultural practices are still being observed despite increasing acceptance of Christian religion, especially the non-burial of corpses of such deaths inside town, these practices are declining as many people no longer hold such traditional beliefs. The two factors he believes affected such beliefs are   Western education and Christianity.

People now insist that such practices are not obtainable again, so they have rebelled against the practices.  He says: “Some families, when they lose a pregnant woman, they immediately carry out surgery to remove the foetus so they can bring her home for proper burial. This is the very wrong practice that is going on now.

The late woman and her foetus are supposed to go to the evil forest. The Church has affected many practices. For instance, many who used to carry out such traditional functions like taking the corpses to the evil forest, have now become Christians and you can’t get people to perform such traditional rites anymore.”

He speaks further: “Many practices have been jettisoned today. People no longer forbid things. When such abominable deaths occur in families today, out of shame for people not to hear that a taboo has occurred in their family, people no longer adhere to the tradition of burying such in the evil forest or bush. They now blatantly bring such dead into town and bury. This wasn’t so in those days.”

Cleansing the land

He believes some of these disregards for cultures and tradition could pollute a community. “The dumping of pregnant women’s corpses at the evil forest or those of other similar deaths at the bush is not the end. The family and the entire community is deemed to be polluted by such deaths and certain cleansing activities are undertaken for seven days till a total purification and warding off of such spirits are attained.”

He explains that there is a certain group among the traditionalists whose responsibility is to take such corpses to the evil forest or bush. When such deaths occur, the traditionalists will be notified and they will come at night to take such corpses away. They are not to be seen by anyone as they sing horrifying songs and incantations.

No one comes out as it is a taboo to see them while they perform the rituals which last for seven days. “They will stay in the compounds of such families for seven days and seven nights, nullifying the powers that led to such death and generally cleanse the families with various rituals.”

The 98-year-old traditional ruler clarifies that presently at Olomu, if a woman dies with pregnancy, the community will not allow her to be buried in the community unless the circumstances of the death is hidden from the community.

“But such a behaviour usually has its consequences”,   he says, and adds: “And non-Christians will not tolerate such a person to be buried in the community because it pollutes the community.” The difference between those that committed suicide, died in accidents, or from drowning, and those who died with pregnancies is that the pregnant dead are taken to the evil forest with no proper burial ceremonies, while the others are buried in the bush.

But after three years, their relatives can celebrate their remembrance with certain rites, which is not so with women who died with pregnancies. The remembrance is done for the others because proper burial rites were not done earlier due to the circumstances of their deaths. The remembrance is what gives them the sense of fulfillment that they properly buried their departed loved ones, though it cannot take away the shame of the death.

Source: VANGUARD

WHY AFRICANS STILL LAG BEHIND

By providence, one came across his blog sometime in late June 2015 while looking at different samples of functional blogs. It was lovely. The design, the colours, the layout, and above all, the contents were captivating. The contents were quite educative and interesting.

As one glanced through, the urge to meet him grew. One would really love to speak with him, learn more and ask plenty questions about certain aspects of the African culture and civilization.

His very busy schedules scuttled our plans for awhile. Meeting with him was becoming like an uphill task until one started seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

After three months of persistent effort, SPLENDID!  eventually got the opportunity, albeit for a short while. We met with Mr. Olalekan Oduntan, the brain behind www.olalekanoduntan.blogspot.com . A blog one could very well consider an online custodian of the African culture and civilization with particular emphasis on the Yoruba traditions, the first of its kind.

In consideration of all we knew about him, we expected to see someone “extraordinary”. But the University of Lagos Theatre Arts graduate who is also an author, stage artiste, songwriter, musician, percussionist, chanter  and a blogger turned out simple, cerebral and very unassuming.

In a brief chat with SPLENDID! he spoke about his works, spirituality and why the black man is lagging behind.

With your academic background and experience, why didn’t you consider a career in Nollywood instead of going the way of African tradition and culture?

This is because a lot is hidden from the people out there about us. It is a task that is not very easy. Somebody has to start it. Someone got to make the people in the west (northern hemisphere) to get to know more about us. Just like the late legendary Fela Anikulapo did. He conquered the western world through his music and they travelled from all over the world to come and meet with him.

He had other chooses, he met other musicians on the stage when he started, but he opted for his own genre of music which he suffered for and eventually projected him to limelight. Though he is late today, he is still celebrated all over the world. We should have individuals that should think in that direction.

How far have you gone in promoting the African culture?

I have always been doing that through my music. For instance when we did “Sango, the Legendary African King” by Chief Wale Ogunyemi, I wrote almost all the songs in that film and it was done to promote our culture, particularly my constituency the Yoruba culture.

You can see the direction things are going nowadays. Everybody has derailed. You cannot see anything cultural in our ways of life.

In your opinion, why did they derail?

They derailed because there are no other pivots as we used to have in those days. For instance, we have seen what Fela Anikulapo was able to do through music. How many of our youth today are privileged today to find out where they are coming from? Fela Kuti said: We don’t know ourselves. We don’t even know our ancestral heritage.

We only know what we have been fed through the media. With no guidance from anywhere, of course the youth of today would derail. Speaking our dialects for instance is a problem. In most home now, parents don’t want their children to speak in the mother tongue because everybody wants to go the western way. So how would we not derail?

Whose fault?

The fault is more from the society; society because we are not doing enough to promote our culture.  Look at the National Arts Theatre for instance, that is supposed to be the custodian of our tradition, a place to showcase your culture and tradition. There is nothing there.

When we were growing up we used to watch the legends of the theatre like Hubert Ogunde and all the doyens of the African theatre who were imparting culture. But today we don’t have them anymore.

How significant has your blog been in the promotion of African culture to Africans and the world at large?

In fact, I am very overwhelmed with the response. I never even thought that people in the West (northern hemisphere) are yearning for information about us. For instance, you cannot play the white man’s music better than him. That is why you see our Fuji musicians doing better, because it is more of percussion, than the people who are going the western way. Yes, within a short period of time they will make the money but they will fizzle out. You cannot compare the late Chief Osita Osadebe, he is gone now, but people still enjoy his works. You cannot compare with Sir Victor Uwaifor whose music is still reigning as we talk.

So likewise the people in the West are yearning to know more about us, because they have come to realize that our potentials are much more than what they succeeded in taking from us during the colonial era. Even we Africans have not been able to fully explore it to our advantage. That is making us to lag behind. We can never be like the whites. It’s not possible. Technologically, we are not there. We don’t have it.

Which particular information about your works interests them the most?

African spirituality!s

We are spiritual people. But we are kind of too secretive about it. We don’t want to let go of our knowledge spiritually. Most practitioners of such knowledge die with it. Some didn’t even get to impart such knowledge to their children.

For instance, Numerology has to do with numbers. Ifa too has something to do with numbers. What is the secret about it? If numerology is dealing with numbers, ifa too is dealing with numbers. So for you to be able to know ifa, you have to study the numbers, you have to know what the numbers are saying just like numerology. This gave them the impression that we were not like our forefathers. We are trying to reach-out now, to open up.

Besides information on your blog, have you had cause to travel overseas to impart this knowledge?

With what I am currently doing, I have not travelled but I know the time for that is drawing near because I have started receiving invitations for lectures and seminars.

But regarding my acting, being an actor, I have done a lot of travelling.

Would you consider the whites more interested in learning more than the Africans?

Forever and ever, the whites are ready to learn. My people are also interested because they now see that somebody is bold enough to take bull by the horn and talk about this thing.

Why was nobody bold before now, was it a risky venture?

It’s because people were actually afraid to talk about it.

                                                                                  

When you say “it”, what? About what?

It’s a kind of spiritual information about African spirituality. Few of the whites who know about it respect Africa. For instance, if you go to the United Kingdom today, Queen Elizabeth is the spiritual head in Britain. Every institution including the government are under her spiritual supervision. In the same way United States of America has lords. These people are reserved and consulted for information, knowledge and advice on the country’s affairs. Likewise, we have also in Africa. It’s with our spirituality that we get to know these people; talk to them and seek advice.

 Ifa, for instance; there is nothing you want to know about yourself that Ifa would not tell you. Ifa will tell you about the past, present and the future. But here in this part of the world, we are not spiritual. We are only religious.

And the whites; are they also religious?

The white people are spiritual. They don’t care about religion. They push religion to us Africans. They push it to us because today, we regard anything about our culture as being fetish.

They use their spirituality to supercede us. That is what is happening to today. That is why I cited the example of Fela Kuti. When he was alive he was an Ifa man. He was an Ifa priest. When the white people saw that they respected it; and they never joked with till he died. They saw him as one among thousands of Africans who knew himself.

Most of the so-called religious people in Africa are “blending” religious people. Most of them go about with the Bible and the Quran professing their religion however, most of the spiritual problems they have they know where to they go in the “night” to solve them. We are too pretentious. Anything that is ours we don’t want to identify with it. If you see how they flock the churches and the mosques today you will see that majority, even the so-called head of the religious organization they still practice our traditions secretly. They would not let anybody know this to prevent disintegration and dispersal of the congregation.

Africa would have been much more developed today if we had not abandoned our roots, our lineage. How do I mean? Everything that Africa is doing today is to copy the white man. Be it government, be it anything it’s to copy the white man. But the white man that brought this knowledge to you is it to their own advantage over-there and he is getting results.

Let’s talk about your books

The first is Odara. It’s about how the devil came to the world. We were told that devil was the one that went to get the clay with which Adam was made because devil was God’s right hand (angel) man. Devil was expelled by God to the world because he never agreed that man should be superior to him. Hence during the course of arguing with God, devil was expelled from heaven. As he left, he promised to work against all God’s followers and gather his own followers. Hence, bad occurrence (hunger, accident, poverty, witchcraft, diseases, and so on) are always attributed to the devil.

The second book is called Vengeance. It’s about two very poor friends who visited and fortuneteller to know their future. It was revealed that Enitan would be very rich. Olaosebikan was not happy with the revelation that his friend would be richer than him so he went to a blacksmith. He got two iron rods with pointed edges.

He was able to persuade his friend to accompany him to his mother’s village. While in the bush very close to a mahogany tree, he used a charm to render Enitan unconscious; he stuck the rods into his eyes, nailed him to the tree and left him there.

 While there two owls perched on the tree and started exchanging knowledge of different herbal medicines. As he writhed in pains (as he was stuck to the tree through the eyes), Enitan listened and imbibed the discussions of the birds. The birds finished their exchange and flew away.

As for the first medicine, if a person has been blind all his life and he plucks leaves from the right-hand side of this man writhing in pain; squeezes the juice into the affected eyes he will regain his sight. Enitan followed the instruction and he regained his sights.

Regarding the second medicine, if one gets the leaves on the left side; squeeze them in a bucket he will be so rich that his generation yet unborn will not be able to exhaust his wealth. Enitan followed the instructions and he became super rich.

 The third book is Revelation of Our Dreams. The book shows and explains to you the different meanings and interpretations to your dreams.

 All books are available on www.amazon.com.   

NIGERIAN MINISTERIAL LIST

By Charles Novia

OBJ: Mohammadu, make this white man waka so we can talk konkon below, kpa kpa.

BUHARI: Yes, Sir. ( Excuses himself and OBJ from Gordon Brown) Ok, Sir. I am listening.

OBJ: Mohammadu, Mohammadu, Mohammadu. How many times did I call you?

BUHARI: Three times, Sir.

OBJ: Correct. I want you to listen to me very carefully. I flew all the way to New York so I can have this talk with you, away from influences in Aso Rock and your sponsors. You are now the President of Nigeria and you know how I made it possible for you to achieve that. Yes, a few other forces rallied round you too to ensure that you won that election but you cannot ignore that my help was paramount and I don't have to spell it out to you.

BUHAR: Sir, I am grateful for that.

OBJ: Ok. Anyway, I came to talk to you about that your Ministerial List which the whole world has been waiting for. Sebi you are sending it to the National Assembly soon?

BUHARI: Yes, Sir. In a few hours, Ita Enang will depart for Abuja with the list.

OBJ: May I see the list?

BUHARI gives him. OBJ studies the list thoughtfully.

OBJ: What is Wale Edun's name doing on your list as the representative of Lagos State?

BUHARI: Bola Tinubu brought his name to me and insisted that Edun is his choice for Lagos State. You know he too helped in the election and he has to be considered.

OBJ: Look, you must consider yourself too in this government. You already conceded the Number 2 slot to Tinubu and that is good enough. You should not bend too much and lose yourself o. Tell me, who do you really want from Lagos State? Who is the person you believe will be better for your cabinet?

BUHARI: I really want Fashola. He is tested and trusted in administration. I need someone like him in my cabinet. But I don't know what Tinubu has against him...

OBJ: Mohammadu! Pick a pen now and cross out Wale Edun. Replace it with Fashola. You are the President now. Follow your mind. Pick your best as you wish. Oya...

Buhari inserts Fashola's name.

OBJ: I see on this list that Rotimi Amaechi is not here.

BUHARI: I would have wanted him on my list but the petitions against him from Rivers are damning and you know that his inclusion would make some Nigerians think that I am not serious about this corruption war because of the allegations against him.

OBJ: Let me tell you, Mohammadu, you have to do somethings as President to show too to the world that you are loyal to those who fought with you. That boy, Amaechi spent billions on your campaign. We all know the story. Whether it was Rivers State money o, Hooooo! Whether it was his own money o, Huuuuu! But he spent on you. And his only lifeline to redeem himself and give himself a lift psychologically is to be in your cabinet. Let the courts or those who have cases against him prove their case but put his name there. If the name goes to the Senate and they reject him there, it won't be your problem anymore. At least, they would have seen that you tried your best. Put his name o.

Buhari inserts Amaechi's name.

OBJ: Who's this person from Edo State on the list?

BUHARI: It's General Danjuma's candidate.

OBJ: Ah, Theophilus. Of course you know that if your Presidency must survive in the next four years, you cannot cross TY Danjuma. Ask Jonathan.

BUHARI: I know that, Sir.

OBJ: Ekiti State has two names; Segun Oni and Dr Fayemi. Why?

BUHARI: I am yet to choose the final name there.

OBJ: Ah ah! Wasn't Fayemi your Campaign DG? Put his name o. At least you know him better than Oni. Find something for Oni later. Meanwhile, you know my candidates for your list and I am yet to see them on the list.

BUHARI: Soludo?

OBJ: If you call him Soludo o, hooooo! If you call him Ludo o, huuuuu! You need a well-groomed Economist to handle the finance ministry, like Ngozi.

BUHARI: I was thinking of Prof Pat Utomi...

OBJ: Utomi can handle Planning or something. Think about Soludo o. I am not forcing him on you but just think about him in your cabinet.

BUHARI: I will.

OBJ: Who's this Charles Novia on your list?

BUHARI: Huh? I am told he is a filmmaker and critic. Oh, it's the NSA who must have put his name there by mistake. It's for another list...one of those NSA says we have to watch for writing heavy stuff against this government. I have no hand in that matter.

OBJ: But I see his name put under 'Gusau Prison'. Is the NSA thinking of sending him to film Gusau Prison or what? Look, Mohammadu, don't allow your people to put the man there o. I went there and came out a President. If your people put him there, you don't know what will happen in 2019 o.

BUHARI: You are right, Sir. I will look into it.

OBJ: Ngige is on your list. Hhmmmm. Ok o. Erm...Ogbonnaya Onu too. Ok. I can see my my two other slots too in your list. Splendid. Mr President, you can carry on. Count on my support when you need advice anytime.

BUHARI: Thank you, Your Excellency.

*Dramatisation from conjecture. Any resemblance to anyone living or dead is purely co-incidental.

POPE FRANCIS AT A GLANCE

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013, becoming Pope Francis. He is the first pope from the Americas.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, when he was named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Bergoglio, the first pope from the Americas, took his papal title after St. Francis of Assisi of Italy.

Prior to his election as pope, Bergoglio served as archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 (succeeding Antonio Quarracino), as cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church of Argentina from 2001 to 2013, and as president of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from 2005 to 2011.

Pope Francis made his first international visit in July 2013, traveling to Brazil. In December 2013, Pope Francis was also named Person of the Year by Time magazine. To date, his tenure has been characterized by humility and outspoken support of the world's poor and marginalized people, and he has been involved actively in areas of political diplomacy and environmental advocacy. 

Early Life and Education

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants. As a young man, Bergoglio underwent surgery to remove part of one of his lungs due to serious infection. He graduated from a technical school as a chemical technician before beginning training at the Diocesan Seminary of Villa Devoto. In March 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus.

Bergoglio taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé in 1964 and 1965, and also taught the same subjects at the Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires in 1966. He studied theology and received a degree from the Colegio of San José from 1967 to 1970, and finished his doctoral thesis in theology in Freiburg, Germany in 1986.

Entering Priesthood

Ordained as a priest in December 1969, Bergoglio began serving as Jesuit provincial of Argentina in 1973. He has said that initially, his mother did not support his decision to enter the priesthood, despite the fact that she was a devout Catholic. By the time he was ordained, however, she accepted his calling and asked for his blessing at the end of his ordination ceremony. He later returned to his alma mater, the Colegio of San José, where he served as rector (1980-86) as well as a professor of theology. 

On May 20, 1992, Bergoglio was named titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary of Buenos Aires; he was ordained into that post a week later. In February 1998, he became archbishop of Buenos Aires, succeeding Antonio Quarracino. Three years later, in February 2001, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II, named the cardinal-priest of Saint Robert Bellarmino. In 2005, he was named president of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina, serving in that position until 2011.

After Pope John Paul II's death in April 2005, Bergoglio reportedly received the second-most votes in the 2005 papal conclave; Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) was chosen as Pope John Paul's successor.S

Becoming Pope

On March 13, 2013, at the age of 76, Jorge Bergoglio was named the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church—becoming the first citizen from the Americas, the first non-European and first Jesuit priest to be named pope, and adopting the name Pope Francis (he took the title after St. Francis of Assisi of Italy). Prior to the 2013 papal conclave, Pope Francis had served as both archbishop and cardinal for more than 12 years.

The tone of his papacy, which has become admired globally, was established long before his elevation to the church's highest position; however, when he was named to that post, the media quickly picked up on stories of his humility. News circulated about the fact that he returned to the boarding house where he had been staying to pay his bill personally, rather than send an assistant, and that he would choose to live in a simple two-room apartment rather than the luxurious papal accommodations in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. In choosing to live more simply, Pope Francis broke a tradition that had been upheld by popes for more than a century. 

Addressing a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square, in the Vatican City in Rome, Italy, after his selection by the conclave, Pope Francis stated, "As you know, the duty of the conclave was to appoint a bishop of Rome. It seems to me that my brother cardinals have chosen one who is from faraway. . . . Here I am. I would like to thank you for your embrace."

After the results of the 2013 papal conclave were announced, U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement about the new pope: "As the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world, and alongside millions of Hispanic Americans, those of us in the United States share the joy of this historic day."

It was not long after assuming the papacy that Pope Francis began offering more nuanced views and interpretations on key social issues about which the church holds pronounced doctrinal views. He has not shied away from elaborating on those views, and sound bytes such as “Who am I to judge?”, a comment he made referring to homosexuality, have served to portray him as a compassionate conservative whose views are often considered progressive compared to those of his predecessors. 

First International Visit as Pope

Pope Francis made his first international visit on July 22, 2013, when he arrived at the Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There, he was greeted by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in a welcome ceremony and later circulated in downtown Rio in order to be "close to the people."

While in Rio, Pope Francis was on hand to celebrate World Youth Day. More than three million people attended the pontiff's closing mass at the event. On his way back to Rome, Pope Francis surprised reporters traveling with him regarding his seemingly open stance on gay Catholics. 

According to The New York Times, he told the press: "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" His remarks were heralded by several gay and lesbian groups as a welcoming gesture by the Roman Catholic Church.

While he does not believe women should be ordained as priests, Francis considers women an essential part of the church. "The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions," he said. He also continued to present a more accepting attitude toward homosexuality than previous pontiffs, saying that "God in creation has set us free: it is not possible to interfere spiritually in the life of a person," according to The Guardian.

In December 2013, Pope Francis was named Person of the Year by Time magazine. Pope Francis—having joined the ranks of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII, the only other popes to be awarded the title in 1994 and 1963, respectively—was a contender against other prominent figures of the year, including Edward Snowden, Senator Ted Cruz, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Edith Windsor. In the article, it was revealed that the deciding factor that led to Pope Francis landing at the top of the list, was his ability to alter the minds of so many people who had given up on the Catholic church in such a short period of time.

The following March, it was announced that Pope Francis had been nominated for the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize. He did not receive this honor, but he continued to devote his time to reaching out to Catholics around the world. During that summer, Pope Francis went on his first visit to Asia. He spent five days in South Korea in August. 

On his return trip from South Korea, Pope Francis discussed his own mortality with the press. "Two or three years and then I'll be off to my Father's house," he said, according to a report in The Guardian. He also suffered a personal loss around that same time after several members of his family were killed in a car accident in Argentina.

That fall, Pope Francis showed himself to be progressive on several scientific issues. He told the members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences that he supported the Big Bang theory and evolution. According to The Independent newspaper, Pope Francis said that "The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it." He also said that evolution "is not inconsistent with the notion of creation."

Throughout late 2014 and into 2015, Pope Francis continued his pattern of deep engagement with both political and environmental conflicts around the world. He spoke out against global abuses and the misuse of political and economic power, lamenting the disappearances and suspected murders of 43 students in Mexico; the dangers and losses of life caused by immigration; financial mismanagement within the church itself; and sexual abuse. His decision to crack down on church corruption and excommunicate members of the Mafia were hailed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike, though they also caused him to receive death threats. 

He tackled other political blockades too, bringing together Presidents Raul Castro, of Cuba, and President Barack Obama, of the United States, in a historic meeting that precipitated significant foreign policy changes. Finally, his ambitious schedule of travel continued, with visits to Paraguay, Bolivia, and Ecuador, as have beatifications. To date, he has beatified more than three dozen people, including Óscar Romero, a priest from El Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 because of his espousal of liberation theology and his activism to protect marginalized people.

In September 2015, Pope Francis continued to stir up the status quo in the Catholic Church when he announced that priests around the world will be allowed to forgive the “sin of abortion” during a “year of mercy,” which starts December 8, 2015 and ends November 20, 2016. The Pope wrote about this act of compassion in a letter, stating: “I think in particular of all the women who have resorted to abortion. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonizing and painful decision. What has happened is profoundly unjust; yet only understanding the truth of it can enable one not to lose hope."

He added: "The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father. For this reason too, I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it." 

SOURCE: Biography.com