Pope Francis was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969, but before he began his seminary studies he worked some interesting jobs, namely as a bouncer at a nightclub and as a chemical technician.
Pope Francis is noted for his less formal approach to the papacy and it seems his rather adventurous life before priesthood only adds to that informal type of demeanor.
Being from Argentina, Pope Francis is the first non-European Pope for 1,272 years. His concern for the poor and his humility have been standout the characteristics of his papacy thus far. His choosing to reside in the guesthouse rather than the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace and his choice to adorn simpler vestments only serve to support these characteristics.
Perhaps his secular occupations have helped Pope Francis have a more open mind to the world we live in. He is noted for encouraging dialogue as a means of building bridges between people of different backgrounds and faiths.
