What Kind of Man Was Pope Francis?

I spent fourteen years in Catholic school and eight years as an altar boy. I've heard all the jokes, but if you think you have an original one, leave it in the comments. All that time I avoided church as much as possible. I ignored my church's youth group and the cardboard cutout of Pope Francis those kids carried around. But post-grad, peak-Covid, and just before a family tragedy that expedited the process, Pope Francis made me Catholic again. Now I'm the only Gen-Z practicing Catholic on the Esquire editorial team, so I get to write a column.

View in Browser  SHOP EXCLUSIVE SUBSCRIBE What Kind of Man Was Pope Francis? I spent fourteen years in Catholic school and eight years as an altar boy. I've heard all the jokes, but if you think you have an original one, leave it in the comments. All that time I avoided church as much as possible. I ignored my church's youth group and the cardboard cutout of Pope Francis those kids carried around. But post-grad, peak-Covid, and just before a family tragedy that expedited the process, Pope Francis made me Catholic again. Now I'm the only Gen-Z practicing Catholic on the Esquire editorial team, so I get to write a column. Read More Burberry's Trench Coat Can Take on Anything More than a century after its introduction, it remains as stylish—and functional—as ever. Read More A Full Guide to Which Patio Furniture You Should Buy From a $90 Amazon set to an $11,000 sofa, here's how to shop. Read More Naomi Girma Is the First Million-Dollar Player in Women's Soccer. She's Underpaid. Girma has taken time out to talk with us and reflect on this remarkable moment, for her and for fans of American soccer. "When I found out the transfer was going through, it felt unreal that it all came together," she says. She's referring to her record-breaking move in January from the San Diego Wave of the National Women's Soccer League to storied Chelsea of England. The $1.1 million transfer fee paid is the highest ever in women's soccer, making Naomi Girma its first million-dollar player. Read More The 40 Best Mother's Day Gifts She deserves so much more than a phone call. Read More Kristi Noem Got Her Purse Snatched with $3,000 In Cash Inside Let's hope the miscreant doesn't try to sell the Homeland Security Secretary's access badge to a bad actor. Read More Bad Dojo: Tiger Schulmann Didn't Get to Be America's No. 1 Karate Kingpin Without Busting a Few Faces The New Jersey Convention and Expo Center is nestled among a series of fading industrial parks just off I-95. Most weekends, it's overrun with model-train enthusiasts, hot-tub salesmen, and fly fishermen. But on a sunny day in December, the cavernous hall's permascent of pretzel grease is cut with a new odor: the tangy smell of cowhide gloves connecting with flesh. For today, Daniel "Tiger" Schulmann, the strip-mall karate kingpin of America, is holding his semiannual Challenge of Champions. Read More Follow Us Unsubscribe | Privacy Notice | CA Notice at Collection Esquire is a publication of Hearst Magazines. ©2025 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This email was sent by Hearst Magazines, 300 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019-3779