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Father Lorenzo Massa, who started the fútbol club to keep boys active and out of trouble.
     
    When it comes to languages, besides Spanish, Bergoglio knows Italian, Portuguese, German, French, Piedmontese, Genoese, and English. While perfectly comfortable in Italian, he finds English the most difficult because of the pronunciation. His understanding of Piedmontese and Genoese, and hence his facility with Italian, are from hearing his older family members converse in these dialects when he was a boy. His fluency in German comes from his days of study in Germany.
     
    Bergoglio has a devotion to St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The 19th century French saint, who also inspired Mother Teresa, is known for her ‘Little Way’ of small deeds with great love and for her ‘Shower of Roses’ as a sign of answered prayer. Pope Francis shares in Ch. 12 in the book “Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio” the following: “Whenever I have a problem, I ask the saint not to resolve it, but to take it in her hands and help me accept it, and, as a sign, I almost always receive a white rose.” Bergoglio has had good experiences of sharing devotions among the people, especially in Argentina, because they become engrained in the culture and keep the people close to God.
     
    Bergoglio has a heart for those of other rites and faiths. Known to greatly appreciate the beauty and spirit of the Eastern rite liturgies and prayers in the Catholic Church, he was appointed ordinary of Eastern rite Catholics in Argentina that were lacking an ordinary while also serving as archbishop of Buenos Aires.
     
    Cardinal Bergoglio became good friends with Rabbi Abraham Skorka and they published a book together recording their dialogue on religious topics, titled “On Heaven and Earth”. Skorka recalls, “Inter-religious dialogue, which acquired special significance after the Second Vatican Council, usually begins with a stage of ‘tea and sympathy’ before moving on to the trickier subjects. With Bergoglio, there was no such stage. Our conversation began with an exchange of terrible jokes about each other’s favored soccer teams and went immediately to the candor of sincere and respectful dialogue. Each of us expressed to the other his particular vision about the many subjects that shape life. There were no calculations or euphemisms, just clear and direct ideas. One opened his heart to the other, just as the Midrash [the traditional commentary on Scripture by the rabbis] defines true friendship.”
     
    In their dialogue, the two religious leaders would alternate in discussing their views and values on a given subject, such as society, culture, morality, God, and religion. One would agree with much of what has been said and then contribute his values, perspectives, and experiences. Even in instances where Bergoglio, as a Catholic archbishop, likely disagreed with Skorka, he typically held back from critiquing him unless there was a misunderstanding that had to be cleared. This represents the style of the dialogue and of their friendship; this experience also sheds light on Pope Francis' approach to many situations.
     
    For Bergoglio, dialogue is the way to harmony and solidarity by recognizing commonality in others and acknowledging differences respectfully. Genuine dialogue, according to Bergoglio, is what is very much lacking in the political climate in Argentina. He shares in “Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio” that people must recognize “that the other person has much to give me, that I have to be open to that person and listen, without judgment, without thinking that because his ideas are different from mine, or because he is an atheist, he can’t offer me anything. That is not so. Everyone has something to offer, and everyone can receive something.” Further, according to Bergoglio, “Real growth in mankind’s conscience can only be founded on dialogue and love. Dialogue and love mean recognizing the differences of others, accepting