Pope Francis
Who was Pope Francis?
The 266th Pope of the Catholic Church who served from 2013 to 2025, becoming the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Pope Francis (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church from March 13, 2013, until he passed away on April 21, 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American pontiff, and the first pope from outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope, Gregory III. His election marked a notable change in the papacy's geographical and cultural direction.
Bergoglio was born to an Italian family in Buenos Aires, where he grew up. After recovering from a severe illness in 1958, he felt a calling to join the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), setting him on a path that led to the highest office in the Catholic Church. He became a Catholic priest in 1969 and quickly advanced through the Jesuit ranks, serving as provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979 during a turbulent time in the country's history.
His church career continued to progress when he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, a role that put him at the center of Argentina's Catholic leadership during periods of economic and social challenges. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in 2001, acknowledging his pastoral skills and theological knowledge. After Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, the papal conclave elected Bergoglio as pope, and he chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, highlighting his commitment to simplicity and helping the poor.
During his twelve-year papacy, Pope Francis became known for his reform-minded approach and focus on social justice, care for the environment, and mercy. He initiated the Synod on Synodality, seen as a major event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. His time as pope was marked by efforts to create a more inclusive Church, particularly regarding LGBTQ individuals, and by allowing women and laymen to become full members of Roman Curia dicasteries. He kept a simpler style, living in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse instead of the traditional papal apartments, where he later died in 2025.
Before Fame
Jorge Mario Bergoglio grew up in Buenos Aires during the 1940s and 1950s, a time when Argentina was going through major political and social changes under Juan Perón's presidency. His family's Italian immigrant background was typical for many Argentine families of that time. Before he devoted himself to religious life, he worked as a bouncer at a nightclub and studied chemical technology, showing an early interest in science that would later support his environmental advocacy.
He decided to join the Jesuits in 1958 after a deep spiritual experience during an illness, which led him to give up his earlier career plans. The Jesuit focus on education, social justice, and intellectual rigor influenced his thinking during his formative years. His education at places like the Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel and the University of Buenos Aires gave him a strong intellectual base that mixed scientific knowledge with theological study.
Key Achievements
- First Jesuit and first Latin American elected to the papacy
- Convened the Synod on Synodality, considered the most significant Church event since Vatican II
- Reformed the Roman Curia to include women and laymen as full members of dicasteries
- Advanced Catholic social teaching on environmental issues and climate change
- Promoted greater inclusivity toward LGBTQ individuals within Church teaching
Did You Know?
- 01.He worked as a nightclub bouncer and chemical technician before joining the Jesuits
- 02.He chose to live in a Vatican guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments throughout his entire papacy
- 03.He was awarded the unusual honor of 'Sexist Man Alive' in 2021, alongside more traditional papal decorations
- 04.He lost part of his right lung to pneumonia as a young man, which influenced his decision to join religious life
- 05.He was known for making unscheduled phone calls to ordinary Catholics who wrote to him
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Charlemagne Prize | 2016 | — |
| Grand Collar of the Order of the Andes' Condor | 2015 | — |
| Bambi Award | 2016 | — |
| Order of the Smile | — | — |
| Time Person of the Year | 2013 | — |
| Sexist Man Alive | 2021 | — |
| Supreme Order of Christ | — | — |
| Order of the Golden Spur | — | — |
| Order of Pius IX | — | — |
| Order of St. Gregory the Great | — | — |
| Order of St. Sylvester | — | — |
| Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre | — | — |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom | 2025 | — |
| Gold Olympic Order | 2013 | — |