Pope Francis served as pope from March 13, 2013, until his death on April 21, 2025, making his papacy a little over 12 years long. He was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first pope from Latin America and the Southern Hemisphere

. His pontificate lasted longer than the average tenure of about 7.5 years for previous popes, aligning with the modern average of around 12 years since 1900

. Pope Francis was known for his humility, progressive stances, and focus on issues like poverty and global warming. He was also the first Jesuit pope and chose the name Francis to honor St. Francis of Assisi

. He died at the age of 88 on April 21, 2025, at the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta

. Following his death, Pope Leo XIV was elected as his successor on May 8, 2025