Pope Francis is one of the few people in the rich history of the Catholic Church to have garnered international acclaim.
Pope Francis, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in the low-key Flores neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, has had a singular journey to the papacy, distinguished not only by his religious fervour but also by a string of intriguing life events that demonstrate his groundedness and closeness to everyone.
In 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned, Pope Francis was elected as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, making history.
In addition to becoming the first Jesuit pope, he was the first Latin American pope and the first non-European pope in almost 1,300 years. He succeeded Pope Gregory III of Syria, who was elected in 731.
The oldest of five children, Pope Francis was the son of an Italian immigrant father and an Italian-Argentine mother. His modest upbringing was a result of his family’s working-class values.
He had an unusual existence before entering the priesthood for someone who was meant to be a spiritual leader. When Bergoglio was younger, he worked as a caretaker before becoming a nightclub bouncer. He demonstrated his scientific curiosity by training as a chemical technician before deciding to pursue a career in theology.
He became the leader of the Society of Jesus in Argentina and Uruguay by the age of 36, a position he held from 1973 to 1979, after being ordained as a Jesuit priest in 1969. His term was distinguished by his dedication to service and humility, which would later come to characterise his pontificate.
Pope John Paul II made him a bishop in 1992, and six years later he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2001, he was made a cardinal by John Paul. Throughout his ascent in the church, Francis maintained his reputation for simplicity and pastoral awareness; he frequently opted for public transit over private vehicles and lived in modest quarters rather than the opulent bishop’s mansion.
His reign as pope has been influenced by Pope Francis’s upbringing as a man of the people. He has continuously promoted environmental stewardship, fought for the underprivileged, and emphasised compassion, social justice, and inclusivity.
Pope Francis’s 88 years on earth have inspired millions of people worldwide, from guiding over a billion Catholics globally to bouncing boisterous clients at nightclubs in Buenos Aires.
For twelve years, he presided over the Catholic Church as Pope.
On April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, the Vatican confirmed his death.
