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Pope Francis I – 266th Leader of the Catholic Church

Pope Francis I was the 266th man elected as pope. He was appointed in 2013 at the age of 76 and met with many world leaders since taking on the position. He sadly passed away on Easter Monday, April 21st 2025.

This article offers a look at his life before and after becoming pope and his death.

Early Life

Pope Francis I

Born in December of 1936 as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis was one of five children born to Regina and Mario. As the eldest, he often helped his mother care for the younger children.

After finishing elementary school, he attended a technical school and received a diploma in chemical tech. While working in a lab, Jorge also worked part-time as a bar bouncer and as a custodian. He became a fan of football and dancing, often visiting tango clubs during his youth.

Calling to the Church

In the late 1950s, Jorge received a calling to help the church. He went back to school and began working with the Society of Jesus. Jorge would also work as a professor at a local college and teach psychology and literature.

Named one of the archbishops of Buenos Aires in 1997, he brought awareness to some of the slums in the city and appointed more priests to work in those areas.

Life as Pope

Before becoming pope, Pope Francis went through an extensive physical exam that found he was healthier than other men of the same age. He became the 11th pope born outside of Europe and the first since Gregory III who served during the eighth century.

Pope Francis is also the first pope born in the Southern Hemisphere. Known for his simple approach to the role, he has a deep commitment to the poor and believes that the Church should help those in need. He even chose his name in honor of a man who helped the poor. Elected on March 13, 2013, he accepted the position and became inaugurated on March 17.

Pope Francis I experienced some tension with Argentina after he called for a better distribution of wealth in the nation. The pope also believes in the teachings of mercy as established by Jesus Christ and encourages those who think they failed the Church to come back.

How Old was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis died aged 88 years old. He is the 3rd oldest Pope to have served. He was born 17th December 1936. Fewer than 5 popes have served at the age of 88.

How Long Did Pope Francis Serve As Pope?

Pope Francis’ reign as Pope lasted 12 years and 39 days.

What Languages Could Pope Francis Speak?

Pope Francis could speak 8 languages fluently. They were Spanish, Italian, English, Piedmontese (a language found in the northern region of Italy), Portuguese, French, German, and Latin. He was most comfortable with Spanish, Italian and Latin. 

List of Events In The Life of Pope Francis I (Jorge Mario Bergoglio)

DateAgeEventTitle
17 Dec 1936Born
11 Mar 195821.2EnteredMember of Society of Jesus
12 Mar 196023.2First VowsMember of Society of Jesus
13 Dec 196932.9Ordained PriestPriest of Society of Jesus
22 Apr 197336.3Final VowsPriest of Society of Jesus
20 May 199255.4AppointedAuxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina
20 May 199255.4AppointedTitular Bishop of Auca
27 Jun 199255.5Ordained BishopTitular Bishop of Auca
3 Jun 199760.4AppointedCoadjutor Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina
28 Feb 199861.1SucceededArchbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina
30 Nov 199861.9AppointedBishop of Argentina, Faithful of the Eastern Rites
21 Feb 200164.1Elevated to Cardinal
21 Feb 200164.1AppointedCardinal-Priest of San Roberto Bellarmino
14 Oct 200164.8InstalledCardinal-Priest of San Roberto Bellarmino
13 Mar 201376.2ElectedPope (Rome, Italy)
19 Mar 201376.2InstalledPope (Rome, Italy)
5 Jun 202285.4AppointedPrefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization
21 Apr 202588DiedDied in the Vatican City

Pope Francis Death

Pope Francis died on 21 April 2025 at the age of 88. In the months leading up to his death, he had experienced ongoing health issues, including a prolonged hospital stay beginning in February 2025 for a respiratory crisis that developed into bilateral pneumonia.

He was also treated for low platelet levels and mild kidney failure during this time. Despite his condition, he made a public appearance from the hospital balcony on 23 March and addressed crowds at the Vatican on Easter Sunday, 20 April.

His death was formally announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo of the Holy See, at 7:35 a.m. Rome time.

Interesting Facts About Pope Francis I

  • Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

  • His name before becoming pope was Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

  • Pope Francis is a prolific writer and author. He has written over 90 books. Take a look at his entire back catalogue here.

  • His papacy began on March 13, 2013.

  • His Predecessor was Benedict XVI
  • Pope Francis I earned the nickname of the Slum Bishop in the 1990s due to the priests he sent into the slums of Buenos Aires. He believed that those priests could help the area improve.

  • As the first Pope Francis, he chose the name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi who lived in Italy during the 12th century.

  • Pope Francis had a girlfriend before becoming a priest. The two would often go tango dancing and visit some of the top nightclubs in the city.

  • During a serious bout of pneumonia in his early years, he developed a lung infection that required doctors to operate. Though he only has one healthy lung today, he is still very active.

  • Pope Francis takes an informal approach to his role. He was the first pope to turn down the apartment that others used in favor of a small guesthouse. The pope also wore simple clothing during his appointment and continues using the same cross he did as a cardinal.

See the full list of Popes throughout history here.