Pope Francis Biography: The Life and Ministry of South America’s First Pope

Few popes have captured the world’s imagination quite like Francis. From the moment he stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2013, dressed in simple white and asking for the people's prayers, it was clear this would be a papacy unlike any other. Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the first pope from the Americas, has spent his tenure championing the poor, calling for social justice, and rejecting the hierarchical trappings of power normally associated with the papacy.

Now in his 9th decade, Francis’ declining health has been global news for the past few weeks, just as Jubilee celebrations are ramping up in Rome. The pontiff is currently being treated in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for a serious respiratory infection, and whilst his condition has stabilized, the prognosis remains uncertain. In a statement from his hospital bed on March 10th, Francis thanked all those who devote themselves to treating the sick, helping to bring “a little light into the night of pain".

Today we profile the life and work of the 266th pontiff.

Early Life in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, photo by Canvapro

The man who would rise to the papacy as Pope Francis I was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires on December 17th, 1936. His parents were Italian immigrants to South America, and links to the Bel Paese remained strong throughout Jorge’s upbringing. Despite graduating with a degree in chemistry, the calling of a life of faith was always too strong to resist for the young Bergoglio, and in 1958 he joined the Jesuit novitiate in his native city.

Bergoglio’s academic bonafides were central to his early career in the church: he obtained a degree in philosophy in 1963, and taught that subject in colleges across Argentina for much of that decade. A degree in theology was soon to follow. He was finally ordained a priest in 1969, and continued his didactic role in various Jesuit-run institutions in Argentina. Doctoral studies in Germany followed, but by this time the increasing practical demands of his office meant that he was forced to return to South America before completing his dissertation.

The Shepherd of the Slums

Photo by Lelahel1970, CC BY-SA 4.0, via wikimedia

Back in Buenos Aires, Bergoglio soon gained a reputation for working with the city’s poor. Guided by a conviction that “trampling upon a person’s dignity is a serious sin,” the young priest became a vocal advocate for the disenfranchised, standing against inequality while emphasizing the importance of humility.

His work in the city’s shanty towns, where he ministered to the homeless and those suffering from addiction, earned him the nickname Bishop of the Slums. Tension was in the air, however, as his numerous progressive stances and dissenting views on certain orthodoxies earned him enemies in the church hierarchy.

On 20 May 1992 Pope John Paul II appointed him titular Bishop of Auca and Auxiliary of Buenos Aires. Promotion to archbishop and primate of Argentina followed in 1998. As archbishop, Bergoglio sought to reduce corruption and profligacy in the Argentinian church, and increased the charitable work in the city’s slums, hospitals and prisons - doubling the priestly presence there. He also issued an apology on the behalf of the church's collective failure to speak out against the dictatorship during Argentina’s Dirty War.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II elevated Bergoglio to cardinal, further expanding his influence—but even then, he remained something of an outsider to the Vatican’s corridors of power. Ironically, it was precisely his outsider status that one day would lead to his election as the world’s most powerful religious figure.

The Unlikely Rise to the Papacy

Bergoglio’s promotion to the cardinal purple had little effect on his humble lifestyle. His insistence on living in simple lodgings and unwillingness to take advantage of the many perks of his office further burnished his reputation as an honest broker, a particularly valuable trait as the global church struggled to deal with the fallout of the many scandals that had engulfed it.

Upon the passing of John Paul II in 2005, Borgoglio was considered by many to be amongst the papapili, or those cardinals with a real chance of being elected the next pope. In the event, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger eventually got the nod and became Pope Benedict XVI. Eight years later, however, it would be Bergoglio’s turn.

Pope Benedict became the first pope to step down from the papacy in almost 600 years when he resigned due to ill health on February 11th, 2013, triggering a new papal conclave to determine the successor to the seat of St. Peter. This time there would be no denying Bergoglio, who was elected quickly on just the second day of the conclave after five ballots.

Taking the name Francis in honor of Francis of Assisi, who was also devoted to serving the poor, Bergoglio became not only the first pope with that name but also the first pope from South America and the first Jesuit to take on the role.

The People’s Pope

Photo by Juantenaphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via wikimedia

Not even his accession to the papal throne could change Francis’ ascetic habits. Not for him the pomp and ceremony of the Vatican, or the luxurious apartments that were the preserve of his predecessors: Francis chose to live in the more down-to-earth surroundings of the Domus Sanctae Marthae guest house, leaving the Papal suite of rooms vacant.

One of the central pillars of Francis’ papacy has been to reduce the church hierarchy’s focus on status and worldly authority, what he defines as ‘clericalism,’ and aiming instead at a more inclusive and service-oriented vision of the priesthood. And nobody could argue that he hasn’t practised what he preached: Francis has been one of the most accessible popes of all time, frequently seen in public and happy to engage with ordinary people.

Policies and Legacy

photo by Canvapro

In a strong break from the somewhat doctrinaire Benedict, Francis' papacy has been much more concerned with issues of social justice and pragmatic affairs than the finer points of dogma.

Almost from the beginning of his tenure Francis infuriated conservative voices in the Catholic hierarchy and curia with his outspoken views on global inequality, the pitfalls of unfettered free-market ideology and his commitment to speaking out on the perils of climate change, as outlined in his encyclical Laudato Si.

Indeed, perhaps his most lasting legacy will be his strong commitment to the protection of the environment, castigating the world’s biggest polluters and positioning the church as a powerful voice in the battle against impending climate catastrophe.

A staunch opponent of the death penalty, Francis has denounced the demonization of migrant communities in the west and the mistreatment of indigenous peoples. His refutation of vaccine scepticism during the Covid-19 pandemic and openness to the idea of a universal basic income further enhanced his reputation amongst liberals.

Something of a rapprochement was offered to the LGTBQ community too, although concessions in this regard fell short of the hopes of many campaigners. So too for female reproductive rights, on which Francis reasserted the Catholic church’s strong rejection of abortion, and the role of women in the priesthood.

Nonetheless, it seems certain that Francis will be remembered as a reforming and liberalizing voice in the Catholic church, and one that brought the religion a new resonance on the global stage, especially in his defence of the rights of migrants and the environment - two of the most important hot button issues of our times.

Here’s wishing Pope Francis a speedy recovery!

For 25 years, Through Eternity have been organizing itineraries showcasing the best of Rome led by our resident expert guides. If you're planning a visit to the Eternal City during the Jubilee Year of 2025, be sure to get in touch to help plan your perfect trip. For everything you need to know about visiting Rome during the Jubilee, check out our dedicated Jubilee travel guide here.