Pope Francis

NAME Jorge Mario Bergoglio (birth name)

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Pope Francis was renowned for being the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American pope, and the first pontiff born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III. He became famous as "the People's Pope" for his humility, emphasis on God's mercy, commitment to interreligious dialogue, and concern for the poor, migrants, and refugees.

BIRTH Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Flores, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was born to a family of Italian origin during the height of the Great Depression era.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Pope Francis was born to Italian immigrant parents. His father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an accountant employed by the railways who had emigrated from Piedmont, Italy. His mother, Regina María Sívori, was a committed housewife born in Buenos Aires to a family of northern Italian origin. Mario Bergoglio's family left Italy in 1929 to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini, though according to María Elena Bergoglio, the Pope's only living sibling, the family did not emigrate for economic reasons. The family represented the wave of Italian immigration to Argentina in the early 20th century.

CHILDHOOD Francis was the eldest of five children. His siblings were Oscar Adrián, Marta Regina, and Alberto Horacio, with María Elena being his youngest sister who was still living at the time of his papal election. 

He grew up in a modest household in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires. During his childhood, he became fluent in both Italian and Spanish due to his family's heritage. His upbringing was described as reasonably modest and humble, which enabled him to understand the plight of different social groups and develop social consciousness from a young age.

EDUCATION In sixth grade, Bergoglio attended Wilfrid Barón de los Santos Ángeles, a school run by the Salesians of Don Bosco in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires Province. He then attended the technical secondary school Escuela Técnica Industrial Nº 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen, where he graduated with a chemical technician's diploma. 

After working briefly in the food-processing industry, he studied at the archdiocesan seminary, Inmaculada Concepción Seminary, in Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires. He entered the Society of Jesus as a novice on March 11, 1958. In 1960, Bergoglio obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo de San José. He completed his theological studies at Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel and later completed his final stage of spiritual training as a Jesuit at Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

Bergoglio at an Argentine seminary where he studied for the priesthood in the 1950s

Bergoglio pursued graduate studies in theology in Germany in the 1980s, where he finished his doctoral thesis

CAREER RECORD Bergolio taught literature and psychology at various institutions, including the Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepción in Santa Fe from 1964 to 1965 and the Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires in 1966.

Bergoglio was ordained as a Catholic priest on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. 

1973-1979, he served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina. 

1980-1986 Served as Rector of the Colegio de San José and parish priest in San Miguel 

1992 Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires 

1998 Named Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, a post he held until his election to the papacy.

2001 Pope John Paul II created him a cardinal. He famously asked the faithful not to come to Rome to celebrate his cardinal creation but instead to donate to the poor what they would have spent on the journey.

2013 Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the 2013 papal conclave elected Bergoglio as pope on March 13, 2013. His papacy lasted 12 years and 1 month until his death in 2025, surpassing the 7.5-year average tenure of his 265 predecessors.

APPEARANCE Pope Francis had a relatively short stature, often seen with a gentle, often smiling expression. He had gray hair and often wore glasses. His appearance reflected his humble approach to the papal office, often appearing without the elaborate regalia traditionally associated with the papacy.

Pope Francis in 2014 By Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service 

FASHION Pope Francis became an unlikely fashion icon through his deliberately simple style choices. He was known for his "unfussy white cassocks and simple black shoes," which were reportedly made by a friend in Buenos Aires. 

His fashion choices represented a dramatic shift from his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI, who favored gem-encrusted pectoral crosses, bright red designer loafers, and archaic accessories. Francis chose silver instead of gold for his piscatory ring, kept the same pectoral cross he had as cardinal, and refused the traditional papal mozzetta cape upon his election.

The Cut declared him the world's "normcore pope" for his "simple, non-frilly" approach to dressing, and Esquire named him 2013's "Best-Dressed Man". (1)

CHARACTER Pope Francis was described as having a complex, multifaceted personality. He was attentive, determined, testy, mercurial, sometimes deliberate, sometimes in a hurry, hard to read, and hard to pin down. He thrived on direct, informal encounters including phone calls, penned notes, hugs, and audiences with small groups. He was impatient with protocol, carrying his own overnight bag, busing his own tray at the cafeteria, and answering reporters' questions extemporaneously. 

Throughout his papacy, Francis was noted for his humility and less formal approach to the papal office. He was known for making it clear that the fundamental task of the faithful was not to follow rules but to discern what God was calling them to do. (2)

SPEAKING VOICE Pope Francis was multilingual, speaking fluent Spanish (his native language), Italian (the official language of Vatican City), and German. He was also conversant in Latin (the official language of the Holy See), French, Portuguese, and English. Additionally, he understood Piedmontese and some Genoese Ligurian. 

His communication style was noted for being direct and informal, often speaking extemporaneously rather than following prepared scripts. Pope Francis had a warm, clear, and engaging speaking voice. He often spoke in a calm and deliberate manner, with a noticeable Argentine accent when speaking in Spanish. When speaking Italian, his voice was often described as gentle but authoritative.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Pope Francis had a well-documented appreciation for humor and believed it was essential for faith. He wrote that "those who give up their own humanity give up everything, and that when it becomes hard to cry seriously or to laugh passionately, then we really are on the downhill slope". 

Francis endorsed humor as not just compatible with faith but perhaps essential for it. He invited comedians from around the world to the Vatican, praising them for getting people to "think critically by making them laugh and smile". Francis believed comedians played an important role in denouncing abuses of power, giving voice to forgotten situations, and highlighting inappropriate behavior. (3)

RELATIONSHIPS Pope Francis maintained close relationships with his family, particularly his sister María Elena Bergoglio, who was 12 years younger and still lived in Buenos Aires during his papacy. He had informal, accessible relationships with people from all walks of life, preferring direct encounters over formal protocol. His niece, Cristina Bergoglio, was a painter based in Madrid, Spain. 

 In his youth, at age 12, he reportedly had a childhood love, Amalia Damonte, to whom he proposed marriage with a handwritten note saying, "If I don't marry you, I'll become a priest." Her rejection is said to have changed the course of his life. 

As pope, he was known for his commitment to interreligious dialogue and building bridges between people of all backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths. 

MONEY AND FAME Pope Francis lived a notably simple lifestyle, choosing to reside in the Vatican guest house rather than the traditional papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. He was the first pope since Pope Pius X to live outside the papal apartments. He often said "My people are poor and I am one of them," explaining his decision to live simply and cook his own supper when he was archbishop. He condemned unfettered capitalism as "a new tyranny" and prioritized poverty relief. Francis believed in "a poor church for the poor" and consistently demonstrated this through his lifestyle choices.

FOOD AND DRINK Pope Francis had simple food preferences that reflected his Argentine heritage and humble approach to life. His favorite foods included empanadas (often with meat, cheese, or ham filling), which he recalled making with his grandmother. He also loved alfajores, delicate sandwich cookies filled with dulce de leche and dusted with coconut. For breakfast, he often had fresh-squeezed orange juice and membrillo, a gelatinous paste made from quince that is popular in Argentina. He enjoyed simple meals of baked chicken, salad, fruit, and fresh vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli. Francis came to appreciate Italian staples including gnocchi, pasta, polenta, and pizza during his time at the Vatican. (4)

His favorite drink was mate, the traditional South American herbal tea, which he drank nearly every day. He often received mate as gifts from pilgrims, and it represented not just a beverage but a ritual of grounding and connection to his cultural roots. 

The picture below shows Francis with Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, holding traditional Argentine mate drinkware.

By Casa Rosada (Argentina Presidency of the Nation), Wikipedia

MUSIC AND ARTS Pope Francis had a deep appreciation for the arts, particularly those connected to his Argentine heritage. He loved tango, both as music and dance, and was a fan of Carlos Gardel, one of the biggest figures in the tango genre. Although he loved dancing tango in his youth, he later joked that his feet had turned to "lead" and he couldn't do it anymore. 

He loved classical music, with favorite composers including Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, and Wagner. He particularly admired Mozart's "Et incarnatus est" from his Mass in C minor and Bach's "Erbarme Dich" from the St. Matthew Passion. He had a favorite record store in Rome, StereoSound, which he visited as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. 

In visual arts, he appreciated Marc Chagall's painting White Crucifixion. 

He was also a cinema enthusiast, with Federico Fellini's film La Strada being among his favorites. (5)

LITERATURE Pope Francis taught literature and psychology during his early career. He wrote extensively during his papacy, including his memoir Hope and important papal documents. His spiritual writings on various topics were noted for their narrative force and prophetic voice.

NATURE Pope Francis was recognized as one of history's most environmentally conscious popes. His landmark 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si'" ("Praise Be to You") addressed the climate crisis and championed environmental stewardship. He spoke with "uncompromising conviction for all of nature, the poor, Indigenous and traditional peoples, and for all those who lack a voice in the halls of corporate and political power". 

Francis' spiritual writings on climate change were unprecedented, and he urged humanity to embrace resolve to conserve "our common home". His environmental advocacy directly inspired the preamble of the landmark 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. (6)

He chose his papal name after Saint Francis of Assisi, who was known for his love of nature.

PETS Pope Francis didn't have any pets. He has commented on people giving excessive attention to pets, suggesting that it can sometimes be a form of "programmed love" that replaces the experience of human, reciprocal love. He aligns with Saint Francis of Assisi's view that animals are sacred because they remind us of God, their true origin, rather than as objects for human affection or ownership. (7)

No specific information about pets was found in the available sources.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Pope Francis was a lifelong soccer fan and maintained his membership in his beloved San Lorenzo de Almagro club (Member No. 88235N-0). He watched every game of the team that he could. His nephew, Felipe Bergoglio, made a career out of the family's love of soccer, playing defense for the Italian team Castiglione 1919.

He believed strongly in the spiritual and community value of sports, describing sport as "a place for encounter and fraternity" and emphasizing the importance of preserving the "amateur spirit" in sports.

He loved to dance the tango in his youth, though he humorously noted in recent years his feet had turned to "lead." (5)

SCIENCE AND MATHS Pope Francis had a background in chemistry, having graduated as a chemical technician before entering the priesthood. He worked for several years in the food section of Hickethier-Bachmann Laboratory under Esther Ballestrino. His scientific background informed his environmental advocacy, as he melded science and faith in his approach to climate change and conservation.

PAPACY It’s fair to say that when Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, quite a few ecclesiastical eyebrows went up—and not without cause. For starters, he was a Jesuit (which is already enough to make a few bishops reach for the chamomile tea), the first Latin American pope, and, astonishingly, the first from the Southern Hemisphere. You could almost hear the curial floorboards creak. 

Francis in St. Peter's Square, two months after his election. By Edgar Jiménez from Porto, Portugal -

From the beginning, Francis seemed determined not to behave properly. He refused to swan about in the papal apartments, preferring the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse instead—presumably because it was closer to the kettle and had fewer gilded cherubs staring down at him during breakfast. And then, rather shockingly, he started doing things like washing the feet of prisoners—including women and Muslims—on Holy Thursday. Some people nodded approvingly. Others reached for their Latin dictionaries and murmured “incredibilis.”

When he released his first big document, Evangelii Gaudium, it was all about joy, street-level Christianity, and a Church that’s a bit “bruised, hurting and dirty.” You could almost hear centuries of marble sighing in confusion.

Francis kept saying things like “Who am I to judge?” which isn’t something popes are generally known for. He talked about inclusion, poverty, and the Gospel as if they were still central to the Christian faith—how quaint. LGBTQ+ Catholics, the divorced, and the remarried suddenly found themselves cautiously peeking back through the church door, wondering if they were still welcome. (They were.)

In 2015, he wrote Laudato Si’, a beautifully grumpy letter to the world about the environment, which basically said, “Stop wrecking the place. God made it. Don’t be daft.” Even atheists nodded solemnly. Oil executives less so.

Francis also had a go at cleaning up Vatican finances. This, as anyone who’s ever tried to find last year’s budget in an old church vestry cupboard will understand, was a heroic task. He introduced new rules, shuffled some positions, and even gave laypeople (yes, including women) more say in how things were run. Imagine.

He met with religious leaders around the world, particularly Muslims, and signed a rather lovely document in Abu Dhabi about human fraternity. It was all very grown-up and gracious. The sort of thing that gives cynics indigestion and angels the giggles.

Francis introduced something called “synodality,” which is a fancy word for “Let’s all sit down and talk about things—yes, even the uncomfortable bits.” The Synod on Synodality ran from 2021 to 2024 and felt a bit like trying to run a Bible study with several thousand opinionated aunts and uncles. But he kept at it, and people noticed.

Of course, not everyone was thrilled. Some grumbled about his open arms being too open, particularly toward LGBTQ+ people and divorced Catholics. And the Church’s ongoing battle with sexual abuse was a heavy burden. In Chile, his initial missteps were painful, but he later admitted his errors, which is more than some people do with their parking tickets.

When the dust settles—hopefully not in the Vatican archives—Francis may be remembered as the pope who made the Church feel a little more like Jesus again: gentle, messy, forgiving, and inconveniently interested in the poor.

He swapped golden thrones for kitchen chairs, preferred mercy to might, and seemed more concerned with washing feet than kissing rings. He wasn’t perfect (who is?), but he gave the impression that holiness might have more to do with humility than with hats.

And that, really, is no small miracle.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY As a Jesuit, Pope Francis was deeply grounded in Ignatian spirituality and philosophy. He obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo de San José in 1960. 

Francis' theological approach emphasized God's mercy over strict rule-following, steering the clergy away from "clericalism" toward an ethic of service. He famously said the church's shepherds must have the "smell of the sheep," staying close to the People of God. 

Francis convened the Synod on Synodality, described as the culmination of his papacy and the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council.

POLITICS Pope Francis took progressive political stances throughout his papacy. He called unfettered capitalism "a new tyranny" and prioritized poverty relief, contrasting with Pope Benedict XVI's focus on doctrine. 

Francis called Trump's border wall "not Christian" and clashed with nationalist leaders. He stated that "Nothing good will come of" Trump's efforts to deport undocumented immigrants. 

Francis focused on human trafficking, the drug trade, and support for vulnerable populations. He advocated for more inclusivity toward LGBTQ+ people and made women full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia.

SCANDAL The most significant crisis of Pope Francis's papacy occurred during his 2018 visit to Chile. When asked about a Chilean bishop accused of covering up crimes by Chile's most notorious pedophile, Francis defended the bishop, saying there was "not one shred of proof against him. It's all slander". This response struck a nerve in Chile and prompted his top child protection adviser to rebuke him. However, Francis then commissioned an investigation, realized he was wrong, apologized to the victims he had discredited, and got the entire Chilean hierarchy to offer to resign. This was described as "one of the greatest midcourse corrections of the modern papacy". (8)

While making historic apologies to survivors and instituting some reforms, Pope Francis was criticized for inadequate efforts to address the issue fully and for allegedly protecting or elevating close friends accused of misconduct, such as Jesuit priest Marko Rupnik.

As Jesuit provincial in Argentina during the military dictatorship (1976-1983), he faced accusations of complicit silence regarding the abduction and torture of two Jesuit priests under his authority. He has denied these allegations.

Francis efforts to clean up Vatican finances was described as "patchy," with incidents like the mysterious ousting of a top auditor in 2017 and a botched investment in London real estate that led to convictions.

His progressive stances on issues like divorcees receiving communion and blessing same-sex couples have caused significant friction with conservative factions within the Church, leading to open challenges from some cardinals.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS  Pope Francis faced significant health challenges throughout his life. When he was 21 years old, he suffered life-threatening pneumonia and had three cysts, resulting in part of his right lung being excised. 

During his papacy, he dealt with various health issues related to his advanced age. He suffered from diverticulitis and underwent colon surgery in 2021 and experienced knee pain and sciatica, often using a cane or wheelchair for mobility. Despite these issues, Pope Francis generally maintained a rigorous schedule of audiences and international travel

HOMES Before becoming Pope, he resided in a simple apartment in Buenos Aires as Archbishop.

Pope Francis made the revolutionary decision to live in the Vatican guest house (Domus Sanctae Marthae) rather than the traditional papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. He converted the entire second floor of the hotel wing into a home office, with his residence being Santa Marta's Room 201. He was the first pope since Pope Pius X to live outside the papal apartments. This choice reflected his preference for a simpler, more accessible lifestyle compared to his predecessors.

TRAVEL As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio insisted on traveling throughout the city using public transportation, rather than using taxis or a car service. (9)

Pope Francis was an extensively traveled pope, making 47 international trips during his 12-year papacy. He visited more than 65 countries, nearly a third of all nations globally. His international visits accounted for more than 465,000 kilometers of travel. His first international trip was to Brazil in 2013, and he continued traveling throughout his papacy to spread messages of peace and compassion. He visited refugee camps and engaged in diplomatic efforts worldwide.

DEATH  Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 in his residence at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. The official cause of death was a cerebral stroke and irreversible heart failure. He had suffered from a bout of bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia earlier in the year, which required a 38-day hospital stay. In his final days, he entered a coma before passing away at 7:35 AM local time. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, formally announced his death later that morning.

On April 23, Pope Francis’s remains were transferred to St. Peter’s Basilica, where he lay in state for three days. The faithful were able to pay their respects from April 23 to April 25, with over 250,000 people visiting during this period. The basilica remained open overnight to accommodate the crowds.

The funeral Mass for Pope Francis was held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM in St. Peter’s Square. The service was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. The Vatican confirmed the attendance of at least 130 foreign delegations, including 50 heads of state and 10 monarchs. An estimated 250,000 people attended the funeral Mass, with another 140,000 lining the streets for the procession. Security was extensive, involving thousands of police and military personnel, a naval vessel, and a no-fly zone over Rome.

Francis had previously revised and simplified the papal funeral rites, opting for a more modest ceremony. He chose a basic wooden coffin lined with zinc, ending the tradition of three nested coffins and an elevated bier for public viewing. During the funeral, a summary of his life (rogitum) was placed in the coffin, and Eastern Catholic leaders participated in special prayers.

Pope Francis was buried on April 26, 2025, in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome, specifically in a burial niche between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel. This honored his personal devotion to the Salus Populi Romani icon, before which he prayed before and after each foreign trip. He became the first pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, and the first at St. Mary Major since 1669.

His spiritual testament requested a simple burial “in the ground, without special decoration,” with only his papal name, Franciscus, inscribed in Latin. On April 27, the tomb was opened for public viewing, drawing thousands of mourners. Members of the College of Cardinals visited to pray at his tomb, and his papal ring and lead seal were ceremonially destroyed, as tradition dictates

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Pope Francis' media appearances reflected his accessible, down-to-earth personality that resonated with people worldwide. They included:

Numerous live broadcasts of his Masses, audiences, and apostolic journeys.

Interviews with various media outlets, including a notable one with America magazine in 2013 where he discussed his personal interests.

Featured in documentaries, such as The Speed Cubers (2020), which highlighted his relationship with speedcuber Max Park.

Named Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2013.

Author of books, including Hope: The Autobiography, from which an op-ed was adapted for The New York Times.

Pope Francis was the first pontiff to appear on a Rolling Stone cover and was dubbed "Best-Dressed Man" by Esquire in 2013. 

His simple style and approach to the papacy generated countless memes and unauthorized merchandise, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, and mugs featuring his likeness in faux '90s bootleg designs. There was even a viral AI-generated image of him in a white puffer jacket that captured public attention. His media appearances reflected his accessible, down-to-earth personality that resonated with people worldwide.

ACHIEVEMENTS Pope Francis set numerous records during his papacy. He canonized over 900 saints, setting a record that surpassed Pope John Paul II's 483 canonizations during his 26-year pontificate. He also beatified more than 1,350 people. During his tenure, he appointed 109 Cardinals who became eligible to vote for the next Pope. 

His environmental encyclical "Laudato Si'" was groundbreaking and influenced global climate policy. 

He convened the historic Synod on Synodality and made significant reforms to make the Church more inclusive and accessible. 

His papacy was marked by unprecedented outreach to marginalized communities and interfaith dialogue

Sources (1) CNN  (2) The New Yorker (3) Catholic Review (4) Times of India (5) Hola! (6) Mongabay (7) CatholicH (8) PBS (9) Encyclopaedia of Trivia