Pope Francis — SPARQNOW

At-a-Glance

Served as head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2013 until his death in 2025.
First Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope born or raised outside Europe since the 8th century.
Advocated for inclusivity to LGBTQ people and convened the Synod on Synodality.
Criticized trickle-down economics, consumerism, and overdevelopment, making action on climate change a leading focus.
Helped restore diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.
Committed the Catholic Church to the worldwide abolition of capital punishment.
Known for a less formal approach to the papacy and favoring simpler vestments.

Biography

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from March 13, 2013, until his death in 2025. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he joined the Jesuits in 1958. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.