Pope Francis died on Monday at 88.
His death comes just a day after he made a hopeful and cherished appearance at Saint Peter’s Square during Easter Sunday celebrations.
“With profound sadness, I announce the passing of our Holy Father, Pope Francis,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said in a statement released via the Vatican’s Telegram channel.
“At 7:35 a.m. (0535 GMT) this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, peacefully departed to the house of the Father. His life was wholly devoted to serving God and the Church.”
Here are thing to know about late Pope Francis
1. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1936)
Pope Francis was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He was the eldest of five children in a deeply religious family of Italian immigrants.
2. Son of an Italian Immigrant Accountant
His father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an Italian immigrant who fled fascist Italy in 1929, and his mother, Regina María Sívori, was born in Argentina to Italian parents. Their cultural roots and strong Catholic values shaped Jorge’s early worldview.
3. Raised in a working-class household
Growing up in a modest, working-class family gave him a lifelong connection to the poor and underprivileged, which became a central theme of his ministry as pope.
4. Attended Salesian School in Childhood
As a boy, he was educated by the Salesians of Don Bosco, a religious order known for its emphasis on youth education and discipline, which influenced his later educational work.
5. Graduated as a Chemical Technician
He earned a diploma in chemistry from Escuela Técnica Industrial Nº 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen and worked in a food lab before entering the seminary. His scientific training made him a rare pope with a STEM background.
6. Worked as a Bouncer and Janitor
In his early adult life, he took on humble jobs—including working as a nightclub bouncer and janitor—experiences that grounded him and gave him a sense of the real struggles people face.
7. Lost part of a lung at 21
At age 21, he suffered a severe respiratory illness that required removal of part of one lung. This health scare had a deep spiritual impact and helped clarify his vocation.
8. Felt called to priesthood after confession
His path to priesthood began after a powerful experience during confession, which led him to abandon his former plans and pursue religious life.
9. Joined the Jesuits in 1958
He entered the Society of Jesus as a novice on March 11, 1958. The Jesuit order is known for its intellectualism, missionary work, and focus on education and social justice.
10. Earned Degrees in Philosophy and Theology
He obtained a licentiate in philosophy in 1960 and later studied theology in Buenos Aires. He taught literature and psychology at Jesuit high schools while in formation.
11. Ordained a Priest in 1969
Bergoglio was ordained a Catholic priest on December 13, 1969, marking the beginning of a pastoral career that would later revolutionise the global Church.
12. Became Jesuit Provincial in Argentina
In 1973, he became the head of the Jesuits in Argentina at just 36 years old, leading the order during a time of great political upheaval and violence in the country.
13. Took Final Jesuit Vows in 1973
He made his final, solemn vows as a Jesuit in April 1973, including the fourth vow of obedience to the pope, which all Jesuits make.
14. Pilgrimage Interrupted by War
He made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1973, but his journey was cut short by the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War—a moment that underscored his vulnerability as a young leader.
15. Rector of Jesuit Seminary
He served as rector of the Jesuit seminary in San Miguel, Argentina, from 1980 to 1986, mentoring a generation of young priests and refining his own theological thought.
16. Studied in Germany and Ireland
To improve his English and academic reach, he studied briefly in Ireland and later at the Sankt Georgen Graduate School in Germany, where he explored the works of theologian Romano Guardini.
17. Had strained relations with Jesuit Leadership
After disagreements with Jesuit leadership over his views on liberation theology and pastoral approaches, he lived in relative isolation from the Jesuit community.
18. Consecrated Auxiliary Bishop in 1992
In 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires, beginning his rise in the Catholic hierarchy.
19. Appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998
He became archbishop following the death of his predecessor, leading the largest diocese in Argentina with a focus on social justice and outreach to the poor.
20. Refused Lavish Trappings as Archbishop
Even as archbishop, he refused to live in the luxurious bishop’s residence, choosing a small apartment and cooking his own meals—a lifestyle he would continue as pope.
21. Created Cardinal in 2001
Pope John Paul II elevated him to cardinal, giving him a global platform from which he became known for humility and theological depth.
22. Seen as a moral voice during Argentine crisis
He led the Church during Argentina’s economic collapse in 2001, offering spiritual support and standing up for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised.
23. Elected Pope on March 13, 2013
Following Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation, the conclave elected Bergoglio pope, choosing a man few outside Latin America expected to ascend to the papacy.
24. Chose the Name “Francis” After Saint Francis of Assisi
In a gesture symbolizing peace, humility, and care for the poor, he became the first pope to take the name Francis—setting the tone for a papacy rooted in service and compassion.
25. Rejected Papal Luxury
He declined to live in the traditional Apostolic Palace, opting instead for a modest guesthouse, and continued using a simple white cassock without ornate embellishments.
26. Launched Global Reform of the Vatican
Francis undertook a sweeping reform of the Vatican’s bureaucracy, finances, and internal operations, aiming for greater transparency and accountability.
27. Issued Landmark Encyclical on Climate Change
In 2015, he published Laudato Si’, a groundbreaking document calling climate change a moral issue and urging global action to protect “our common home.”
28. Promoted a More Inclusive Church
He emphasized mercy over judgment, welcomed discussions on family and sexuality, and encouraged pastoral outreach to divorced Catholics, LGBTQ people, and others often marginalized.
29. Confronted the Church’s Role in Historical Injustices
He apologized for the Church’s role in the abuse of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools, calling it a “cultural genocide.”
30. Passed Away on April 21, 2025 at 88
After more than a decade of transformative leadership, Pope Francis died in Vatican City, just one day after making a heartfelt appearance on Easter Sunday, leaving behind a legacy of humility, compassion, and reform.
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