Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, journeyed from his humble beginnings to become the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope, elected on March 13, 2013. With a papacy lasting 12 years, he focused on issues of social justice, the environment, and inclusivity within the Church.
Ordained a priest in 1969, Bergoglio served during Argentina’s dark period of dictatorship, later becoming the auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and the archbishop in 1998. His elevation to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001 signalled his growing influence. In May 2007, he played a significant role in shaping the concerns of the Latin American bishops regarding poverty and indigenous rights.
As pope, Francis was noted for his accessibility and care for the marginalized. He made his first papal trip in July 2013 to Lampedusa, addressing the plight of migrants and denouncing the “globalisation of indifference.” His famous remark, “Who am I to judge?” during a news conference regarding a gay priest marked a significant shift towards a more inclusive Church.
Francis canonised many saints, including the “Martyrs of Otranto,” and initiated a series of impactful reforms, such as overhauling the annulment process to assist divorced Catholics and calling for action against climate change in his encyclical “Laudato Si” in 2015. In efforts to bridge interfaith dialogue, he met with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in February 2016, a historic first in over a millennium.
The scope of his leadership extended to addressing the Church’s handling of sexual abuse scandals, expressing personal responsibility and soliciting the resignation of bishops implicated in such misconduct. Critics challenged him on various fronts, including his stance on divorced and remarried Catholics and same-sex couples, which led to opposition from conservative factions within the Church.
Throughout his papacy, Francis promoted human fraternity, exemplified by his signing of the “Human Fraternity” document in February 2019, and he continued to address global humanitarian issues, including public statements on refugees and climate crisis.
Despite health challenges, including intestinal surgery and a significant bout with pneumonia, he remained engaged with the public, greeting crowds and maintaining traditional papal duties. In 2023, he suffered a respiratory infection but was released soon after.
His later years saw continued dedication to modernising the Church, as reflected in reforms allowing women’s participation in synod votes and approving blessings for same-sex couples under specific conditions. Engaging with global leaders and addressing critical contemporary issues, Pope Francis continually strived to represent a more open and compassionate Church.
Pope Francis’s remarkable journey, marked by significant milestones and a commitment to social justice, left an indelible impact on both the Catholic Church and global society, leading him to be regarded as one of the most influential religious leaders in the world.