The Chosen One

A young man’s life changes after he hears the call of the Lord.

- Tiziana Lupi with the My Pope team

The life of Pope Francis is packed with many extraordinary, inspiring stories. But when asked about them, he always goes back to his favorite one. It’s the story of how he felt the call of the Lord, way back on September 21, 1953. “I do not know how it was. I know that by chance, I entered a church, I saw a confessional, and I came out different,” Pope Francis told thousands of people during a speech in the Paul VI Hall.

THE EPIPHANY

On that fateful day, 16-year-old Jorge Bergoglio’s life was forever changed. From then on, he would feel the constant presence of the Lord: “He never left me alone, even in the dark moments, even in the moments of sin. We are all sinners, I remember my sins and I am ashamed, but also in those moments the Lord has never left me alone—the Lord never leaves anyone alone.” You can just imagine the dawning of this realization in the young Argentine who, during one morning just like any other, left a parish church with a strange glint in his eye.

CALL OF FATE