Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, serving from March 13, 2013, until his death on April 21, 2025

. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first pope from Latin America, and the first non-European pope in over a millennium since Pope Gregory III in the 8th century

. His parents were of Italian descent, and before entering the priesthood, he worked as a chemical technician and in food science

. Bergoglio joined the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness and was ordained a priest in 1969. He served as Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979, became archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001

. He was elected pope following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, choosing the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi

. Pope Francis was known for his humility, simplicity, and a less formal approach to the papacy, opting to live in the Vatican guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments

. His papacy emphasized God's mercy, interreligious dialogue, concern for the poor, migrants, and refugees, and a call for the Church to be more inclusive, including a more open stance toward LGBTQ individuals while maintaining traditional liturgical norms

. He also made significant reforms within the Church, including greater roles for women in the Roman Curia and convening the Synod on Synodality, considered a major event since the Second Vatican Council

. Francis was a vocal advocate for social justice, environmental protection (notably through his 2015 encyclical Laudato si'), peace, and the abolition of the death penalty

. Despite some controversies, including initial mishandling of sexual abuse cases, he later apologized and took steps to address these issues

. He was the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula and to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress, highlighting his commitment to interfaith dialogue and global peace

. Pope Francis died at age 88 in April 2025, leaving a legacy marked by service, unity, and compassion