Pope Francis primarily speaks Spanish, his native language, and is most comfortable with Italian as well. Beyond these, he is proficient in several other languages including Piedmontese (a regional language in northern Italy), Portuguese, Ukrainian, French, German, and Latin, the official language of the Holy See. While he can speak these languages without a translator, he sometimes prefers to use interpreters to ensure clarity and accuracy in his messages. He has acknowledged difficulties with English, particularly in phonetics and pronunciation, despite having learned it during a stay in Dublin in the 1980s. Unlike some of his predecessors, Pope Francis does not emphasize multilingual greetings or speeches in many languages, favoring simplicity and accurate interpretation instead

. In summary, Pope Francis speaks:

• Spanish (native)
• Italian
• Piedmontese
• Portuguese
• Ukrainian
• French
• German
• Latin

He understands and can communicate in these languages to varying degrees but prefers to rely on interpreters for precise communication, especially in English