Pope Francis passed away on Monday morning, the Vatican has announced.
The first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church died at the age of 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell announced the news of his death on the Vatican’s television channel. According to the statement, Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. on Monday morning.
Pope Francis, an Argentine Jesuit priest, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church and the first Latin American pontiff. Born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, he was elected head of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013.
Pope Francis (1936–2025)
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born and raised in Argentina. As a Jesuit priest and later Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he became a prominent religious leader throughout Latin America. Despite his high rank, he remained humble and approachable. His followers surrounded him with deep affection, especially as he traveled his diocese by metro and bus to stay close to the people.
He often said, “My people are poor, and I am one of them,” explaining his decision to live in a modest apartment and cook his own dinner. He encouraged his priests to be merciful, to serve with apostolic courage, and to keep church doors open to all. He also warned that one of the greatest dangers to the Church is what Henri de Lubac called “spiritual worldliness”—a focus on self-centeredness and comfort.
When speaking about social justice, he called people back to the Catechism, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes. His message was simple: by following Christ, we understand that “trampling on human dignity is a grave sin.”
Though naturally reserved and quiet, he became a nationally recognized leader during Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis through his firm and compassionate stance.
Childhood and education
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents. His father, Mario, worked as an accountant for the railway, while his mother, Regina Sivori, raised their five children.
He earned a chemical technician degree before choosing the priesthood. In 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus—the Jesuit order. He pursued humanities studies in Chile, then returned to Argentina in 1963 and earned a philosophy degree at the San José College in San Miguel.
He later taught literature and psychology in Santa Fé and Buenos Aires and completed his theological studies in 1970. He was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. During his studies, he also trained in Spain, where he took his final Jesuit vows in 1973.
Back in Argentina, he served as novice master, theology professor, and eventually rector of the Theological Faculty in San Miguel.
Ecclesiastical career
In 1973, he was appointed provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina, a role he held for six years. From 1980 to 1986, he served again as rector of San José College and also worked as a parish priest. In 1986, he traveled to Germany to complete his doctoral studies, then returned to Argentina as a confessor and spiritual director.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. A few years later, in 1998, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires and Primate of Argentina.
In 2001, Pope John Paul II elevated him to cardinal and assigned him the titular church of San Roberto Bellarmino. However, Bergoglio asked his followers not to travel to Rome for the ceremony, encouraging them instead to donate the money to help the poor.
As a cardinal, he played a key role in the 2001 Synod of Bishops, which focused on the role of bishops. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he developed a comprehensive missionary program built around four goals:
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Creating fraternal communities
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Increasing the involvement of laypeople
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Broadening evangelization efforts
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Supporting the poor and the sick
In 2009, he launched a solidarity campaign for the 200th anniversary of Argentina’s independence, aiming to establish 200 charitable centers.
Until his election as pope, he was a member of several Vatican bodies, including the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Papacy
On March 13, 2013, the conclave elected him pope under the name Francis. He became the first American pope, the first Jesuit pope, and the first to take the name of Saint Francis of Assisi.
During his papacy, he placed special emphasis on the poor, the simplification of the Church, and social justice. He was a pope who led not only through words but also by example. Humility, compassion, and faith were central to his life.
The memory of Pope Francis will live on forever in the hearts of those for whom the Christian faith is not merely a system of dogmas, but a path to living out love and mercy.
(Debreceni Nap)
