Pope Francis

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church, elected on March 13, 2013. He is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope since the 8th century. Known for his humility, focus on the poor, and progressive stance on social issues, his life spans a remarkable journey from a working-class background to the Vatican. He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, to Italian immigrant parents. After working as a chemist, he entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and served in various roles within the Church, including provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina and auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. He became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001. As Pope, he has been noted for his efforts to reform the Vatican, address corruption, and advocate for environmental issues, migrants, and the marginalized. He passed away on April 21, 2025.