You probably think of the Pope and see a distant, stoic figure in white robes standing on a balcony. It’s a vibe. But honestly, when you dig into the history of the papacy—and the lives of the men who’ve held the job—things get weird. Fast. We aren’t just talking about Sunday mass and incense. We're talking about secret late-night escapes, professional chemistry backgrounds, and a surprising amount of sports fandom.
The Pope isn't just a religious leader; he’s the world’s last absolute monarch. That comes with some baggage. From the cars they drive to the stuff they used to do before they got the "big promotion," these fun facts about the pope prove that the Bishop of Rome is a lot more human than the gold-leafed ceilings of St. Peter’s Basilica might suggest.
The Pope Who Used to Be a Bouncer
Let’s talk about Pope Francis. Before he was the leader of 1.3 billion Catholics, Jorge Mario Bergoglio had a pretty gritty resume. He wasn't just sitting in a library reading Latin. Back in his native Argentina, he actually worked as a bouncer at a bar in Buenos Aires.
Imagine that.
The man now known for preaching mercy and peace used to be the guy making sure people didn't get too rowdy on a Friday night. He’s also a trained chemical technician. He spent years working in food science laboratories before he ever entered the seminary. This scientific background is why he’s so specific when he talks about climate change or biology—he actually knows the data. He isn't just winging it.
People often forget that these men had entire lives before they put on the ring of the fisherman. Francis is also a massive fan of tango. He once said in an interview, "I love tango and I used to dance it when I was young." It’s sort of wild to picture the Sovereign of the Vatican City State doing a sharp 2/4 time dance in a smoky Argentinian hall, but that’s the reality of the man.
Wait, the Vatican Has a Football League?
You’d think the Swiss Guard would be too busy standing still with halberds to play sports, but the Vatican is actually obsessed with soccer. It’s basically a requirement. There is a Vatican City National Team, though they aren't members of FIFA because, well, the population is about 800 people and most of them are busy running a religion.
They play against other small states and celebrity teams.
The league is called the Campionato della Città del Vaticano. It’s made up of teams with names like "Musei Vaticani" (The Vatican Museums) and "Guardia Svizzera" (The Swiss Guard). Pope Francis is a die-hard supporter of the San Lorenzo de Almagro football club in Argentina. He’s even a card-carrying member. He has a massive collection of jerseys that have been gifted to him by world-class players like Messi and Ronaldo. Most of these get auctioned off for charity, because what is he going to do with 400 signed jerseys in a small apartment?
The Pope Doesn't Actually Live in a Palace Anymore
This is one of those fun facts about the pope that highlights the personality shift in the modern church. Traditionally, the Pope lives in the Apostolic Palace. It’s grand. It’s gold. It’s intimidating.
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But not Francis.
When he was elected in 2013, he took one look at the papal apartments and basically said, "No thanks." He opted to live in a two-bedroom apartment in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, which is the Vatican’s guest house. He eats his meals in the common dining room. He makes his own coffee. He wants to be around people, not isolated in a marble tower.
It’s a huge departure from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who was much more traditional. Benedict, by the way, was a concert-level pianist. He loved Mozart. He also loved cats. Like, really loved them. When he was a cardinal, he used to look after the stray cats in Rome, and there were rumors he tried to bring his cats into the Apostolic Palace, though Vatican protocol apparently has some thoughts on feline residents in the papal suites.
The Secret History of the Popemobile
The Popemobile is an icon. It’s also a relatively new invention. Before 1981, the Pope usually just rode in a regular black limo or was carried on a sedia gestatoria—a literal ceremonial throne on poles carried by twelve footmen.
That changed after the attempted assassination of John Paul II.
The glass-enclosed "fishbowl" we see today is actually a high-tech fortress. It’s bulletproof. It has its own oxygen supply. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just one car. There’s a whole fleet. When the Pope travels, Mercedes-Benz usually provides a custom M-Class, but he’s also been gifted some pretty insane rides.
- A Lamborghini Huracán (He signed it and sold it for charity).
- A custom-made Ferrari (Also sold for charity).
- A 1984 Renault 4 with 186,000 miles on it (A gift from an Italian priest, which he actually drives around the Vatican).
Honestly, seeing the Pope driving a beat-up Renault 4 around the manicured gardens of the Vatican is way more impressive than seeing him in a Lamborghini.
The Weirdest Trial in Human History
If you think modern politics is messy, you need to look at the "Cadaver Synod" of 897. This is 100% real history. Pope Stephen VI was so angry at his predecessor, Pope Formosus, that he had the man’s body exhumed.
Yes. He dug up a dead guy.
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He dressed the corpse in papal robes, sat it on a throne, and put it on trial. They actually appointed a deacon to speak for the dead Pope. Unsurprisingly, the corpse "lost" the trial. They stripped him, chopped off his three fingers used for blessings, and threw him in the Tiber River. It was a total disaster and eventually led to Stephen VI being strangled in prison. It’s a dark, weird chapter that the Vatican doesn't exactly put on the brochures, but it’s a reminder that the papacy has survived some truly chaotic eras.
What's With the Red Shoes?
You might have noticed that Pope Benedict XVI always wore bright red loafers. People thought it was a fashion statement—rumors even swirled that they were Prada (they weren't; they were made by a local cobbler).
There’s actually a deep symbolic reason for the red.
The color represents the blood of the martyrs. It’s a reminder that the Pope is walking in the footsteps of those who died for their faith. When Pope Francis took over, he ditched the red shoes for simple black orthopedic shoes he’d been wearing for years. He’s all about the "man of the people" aesthetic.
The Pope Is a Sovereign Ruler (With His Own ATMs)
The Vatican is the smallest country in the world. It has its own post office, its own radio station, and its own flag. But the most interesting part of its sovereignty? The ATMs.
If you go to an ATM inside Vatican City, you can actually select "Latin" as your language.
It’s the only place in the world where you can follow on-screen prompts in a "dead" language to withdraw twenty Euros. The Vatican also mints its own coins. Because they are so rare, Vatican Euro coins are massive collector's items. If you find one in your change in Italy, keep it. It’s worth way more than its face value.
Why the Swiss Guard Dress Like That
The guys in the striped blue, red, and yellow uniforms aren't just there for photos. They are a legitimate military force. They have to be Swiss, Catholic, single, and between 19 and 30 years old. Also, they have to be at least 5'8".
While they carry halberds (those long spear-ax things), they are also trained in modern small arms and martial arts. Their uniforms look Renaissance-era because they basically are—though the legend that Michelangelo designed them is actually a myth. They were designed by a commander in the early 20th century based on historical sketches.
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The Pope and the Astronomers
One of the coolest fun facts about the pope is that the Vatican is a leader in space exploration. No, they don't have a rocket program (yet), but they do have the Vatican Observatory.
It’s one of the oldest astronomical research institutions in the world.
They have a massive telescope in Arizona (the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope). Why? Because the Church has long held that there is no conflict between faith and science. They want to understand the universe God created. They’ve even hosted conferences on the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The Church’s official stance? If aliens exist, they are part of God’s creation too.
Resigning Isn't Really a Thing (Until It Was)
For centuries, being Pope was a "til death do us part" kind of deal. Before Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, the last Pope to voluntarily step down was Celestine V in 1294.
Celestine was a hermit who hated the job. He lasted five months before he quit and went back to his cave.
When Benedict resigned, it broke the internet. It created the "two popes" situation where you had a Pope Emeritus and a reigning Pope living a few hundred yards from each other. It changed the precedent forever. Now, it’s widely expected that if a Pope gets too sick or tired to do the job, they can just retire. It’s a more practical, modern approach to an ancient office.
Practical Insights: Visiting the Vatican Like a Pro
If you’re heading to Rome to see these things for yourself, don't just wing it. You’ll end up in a three-hour line in the heat.
- Book the Scavi Tour early. This is the tour of the "excavations" under St. Peter’s. You get to see the ancient Roman necropolis and what is believed to be the actual tomb of St. Peter. You have to email the Ufficio Scavi months in advance.
- Wednesday is the day. If you want to see the Pope, he usually does a General Audience on Wednesday mornings. You need a ticket, but they are free. You can get them from the Swiss Guard at the "Bronze Door" the day before.
- Dress the part. They are strict. No shorts, no bare shoulders. Even if it's 100 degrees out, you need to cover up or they will turn you away at the door of the Basilica.
- Look for the Latin ATMs. Even if you don't need cash, just go to the one near the pharmacy to see the "Insere chartulam" (Insert your card) prompt. It’s a great story.
The papacy is a weird mix of the ancient and the ultra-modern. It's a place where a guy who used to be a bouncer can lead a global religion from a guest house, while his army wears 16th-century uniforms and his bankers use Latin. Understanding these nuances makes the whole institution feel a lot less like a monument and a lot more like a living, breathing history.
To see the Pope's actual impact, keep an eye on his "Apostolic Journeys." Unlike the popes of old who stayed in Rome, modern popes are almost constantly on planes. Francis has visited places like Iraq and Mongolia—spots you wouldn't typically associate with the papacy. This global shift is perhaps the most significant "fact" of all; the center of gravity for the Church is moving away from Europe and toward the Global South.