Q. 1. Can you tell me why the Pope chose the name of Francis? We never had a Pope Francis before this one.

A. 1. The Pope answered that question when he was discussing the internal workings of the papal conclave with some journalists. He said:

"I will tell you the story. During the election, I was seated next to the Archbishop Emeritus of São Paolo and Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Cláudio Hummes—a good friend, a good friend! When things were looking dangerous, he encouraged me. And when the votes reached two-thirds, there was the usual applause, because the Pope had been elected. And he gave me a hug and a kiss, and said, “Don’t forget the poor!” And those words came to me: the poor, the poor. Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi."

And so it is, we have the first Pope Francis.