Pope Francis

Pope Francis marked the Roman Catholic Church with his leadership, leading it into a new era, more humane and full of forgiveness and empathy. However, it seems that he himself was marked at a very young age by his love not for God, but for a woman of his same age, whose rejection led him to become a priest and eventually Pontiff.

Pope Francis, whose secular name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the first pope from Latin America and the first Jesuit elected to the papal throne. He was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI, who resigned — a rare move for the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has become known for his humility, his simple life, and his deep dedication to social issues. It focuses particularly on poverty, social justice, environmental protection and reconciliation between religions. He is also an advocate for reform of the Catholic Church, both in structure and in its approach to people.

The choice of the name “Francis” was a tribute to Saint Francis of Assisi, known for his care for the poor and his respect for nature. This choice symbolized his vision for a more open, accessible, and compassionate Church.