Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis is the first pope from South America and the first Jesuit to lead the Roman Catholic Church.
The son of Italian immigrants, he grew up in a devout Catholic family and embarked on his religious journey early, joining the Society of Jesus in 1958.
Bergoglio studied philosophy at Colegio Máximo de San José in San Miguel and pursued further humanities studies in Chile, before completing his theological training in Argentina.
He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. Known for his humility and strong leadership, he rose quickly through the ranks of the Jesuit order, becoming Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Argentina in 1973.
In 1998, Bergoglio was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and in 2001, he was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Bergoglio was elected as the 266th pope on March 13, 2013.
Pope Francis’ papacy has been marked by a commitment to reform, social justice, and outreach to the marginalized. He has taken bold steps to address corruption within the Vatican, promote environmental responsibility through his encyclical Laudato Si, and foster unity among religious groups. He has also championed causes like poverty eradication, inequality, and human dignity, while encouraging a more inclusive Church.
In a landmark move, the Vatican under his leadership allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, signaling a significant shift from traditional doctrine. He has also confronted the Church’s history of sexual abuse, offering public apologies to survivors and pushing for accountability.
Pope Francis has traveled extensively to advocate for peace and compassion, including his memorable visit to Kenya in November 2015, where he met with fomer President Uhuru Kenyatta, addressed thousands at the University of Nairobi, and visited the informal settlement of Kangemi, urging action on social justice and poverty alleviation.
A pope of many firsts, Francis was a powerful global moral voice, revered for his simplicity, humility, and unwavering focus on compassion in a complex world.
