The 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis is dead. He was 88.
The Vatican said in a video statement on Monday, ending an often turbulent reign marked by division and tension as he sought to overhaul the hidebound institution.
“Dear brothers and sisters, it is with profound sadness I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced on the Vatican’s TV channel.
“At 7:35 this morning the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father.”
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Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Agostino Gemelli Hospital February 14, following a bad case of bronchitis.
Yesterday, the Pope appeared from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilic, giving the traditional Easter blessing before throngs of elated crowd after a brief meeting with Vice President JD Vance, a devout Catholic. It’s the pontiff’s highest-profile appearance since being discharged from the hospital in March.
Who was Pope Francis
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He became the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State since his election on March 13, 2013. He is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.
Before his papacy, he served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires from 1998 to 2013 and was made a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. Known for his humility, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue, Pope Francis has emphasised the need for the Church to be more open and welcoming. He has also been involved in various social issues, including environmental concerns, as highlighted in his encyclical Laudato Si‘, and has worked towards reforming the Vatican’s financial systems and addressing the sexual abuse crisis within the Church.
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Pope Francis was recognised for his relatively simple lifestyle, choosing to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, and for his efforts to make the Church’s teachings accessible to a broader audience. His papacy has been marked by a focus on mercy, social justice, and the importance of caring for the marginalised and vulnerable in society.
Before Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio growing up
Pope Francis was born to Italian immigrant parents. His father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an accountant who worked for the railways, and his mother, Regina María Sívori, was a homemaker. The family had five children, and Jorge Mario was the eldest.
His parents emigrated from Italy to Argentina in 1929, seeking better economic opportunities. The family maintained strong ties to their Italian heritage, and Francis grew up speaking Spanish and Italian.
Pope Francis the chemical technician
He attended a public school, Escuela Primaria N° 8 Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, in the Flores district of Buenos Aires. This was a typical state school, reflecting his family’s modest means.
He later attended Escuela Técnica Industrial N° 12, a technical high school, where he graduated as a chemical technician. This education reflected his father’s practical approach to life and career.
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His family was devoutly Catholic, and faith played a central role in his upbringing. His grandmother, Rosa, was particularly influential in nurturing his spiritual life.
As a teenager, he suffered from a severe lung infection, which led to the removal of part of one lung. This experience deepened his reliance on faith and may have influenced his later emphasis on compassion and care for the sick.
Becoming Pope Francis
At 17, while attending a Catholic youth event, Jorge Mario Bergoglio felt a calling to the priesthood. This was a pivotal moment in his life. In 1958, he entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), known for their emphasis on education, intellectual rigor, and social justice. He underwent rigorous spiritual and academic formation.
He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969, after completing studies in philosophy, theology, and humanities. He also taught literature and psychology during his early years as a Jesuit.
In 1973, at just 36 years old, he was appointed Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Argentina, a role he held until 1979. In 1992, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, and in 1998, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal. As a cardinal, he participated in the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.
Following Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation, Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, taking the name, Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a symbol of humility and care for the poor.
