Pope Francis

Who is Pope Francis?

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. He joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1958, was ordained a priest in 1969, and later served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires before being created a cardinal in 2001. In March 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, he was elected pope and took the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, becoming the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to take the name Francis. He was known for emphasizing humility, mercy, and care for the poor and the environment, choosing to live in the modest Casa Santa Marta guesthouse rather than the Apostolic Palace. His major writings include the encyclicals Laudato Si' (2015) on environmental stewardship and Fratelli Tutti (2020) on human fraternity. He undertook extensive pastoral travel across the globe and pursued reforms of Vatican finances and governance. Pope Francis died in 2025 after a twelve-year pontificate widely noted for its emphasis on pastoral outreach and inclusion.

Sources: Pope Francis, Laudato Si', encyclical, 24 May 2015 · Pope Francis, in-flight press conference, 28 July 2013 · Austen Ivereigh, The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope (2014)