Pope Francis

Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was an Argentine priest and the 266th Pope, Bishop of Rome, head of the Roman Catholic Church, and sovereign of the independent Vatican City State. He was elected to the papal throne on March 13, 2013, choosing his name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. He was the first Pope from Latin America, as well as from the Americas in general, and also the first Jesuit Pope. He was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian parents. After graduating from a school in the Villa Devoto district, he entered the Society of Jesus on March 11, 1958. He studied philosophy at the Colegio Máximo San José in San Miguel de Tucumán and later taught literature and psychology at the Colegio de la Inmaculada in Santa Fe and at Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires. In 1988, he became Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and in 2001 he was awarded the title of Cardinal of San Roberto Bellarmino. He stood out for his simplicity, social sensitivity, and spiritual devotion. He passed away at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, after suffering a stroke. His death was officially announced by the Camerlengo of the Holy See, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, in a statement recorded at the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta.