Pope Francis , born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected pope on 13 March 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He was the first member of the Society of Jesus , also known as Jesuits, to be elected pope and the first from Latin America.
Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness. He was ordained a priest in 1969. From 1973 until 1979, he was Argentina's Jesuit provincial superior. In 1998, he was appointed archbishop of Buenos Aires and in 2001 Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal.
Following the unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Bergoglio as his successor. He chose "Francis" as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi. Pope Francis had a close relationship with the Maltese following his visit to Malta and Gozo in 2022 and his appointment of Bishop Mario Grech to the rank of cardinal on 28 November, later that same year.
Loved for his humility and known for his progressive stance on social issues and a strong focus on the poor and marginalised, he sought to reshape the church's image in a rapidly changing world. Throughout his papacy, he championed inter-faith dialogue, environmental responsibility and a more inclusive approach to doctrine. He called on world leaders to take swift and unified global action to save the planet in his Encyclical Letter "Laudato Si", highlighting the climate crisis.
His leadership was marked by a commitment to simplicity. During his 12-year papacy, Francis was a vocal champion of the world's poor and a blunt critic of social and economic inequality. Within the Vatican, he criticised extravagance and privilege, calling on church leaders to show humility. At his first media appearance as Pope, he expressed his wish for a "poor church and a church for the poor".
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. He was recently discharged from hospital and made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday when he spoke briefly to the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square for Holy Mass.
A few months before his death, Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites. His intention was to simplify the funeral procedure and to emphasise that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff was that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful world leader. His final resting place will be in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
