Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, after suffering a stroke and heart failure. 

Who was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis is the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born as Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Before becoming pope, he was a Jesuit priest, archbishop of Buenos Aires, and a cardinal. He became pope on March 13, 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned.

He chose "Francis" to honor St. Francis of Assisi, who loved peace, nature, and the poor. Pope Francis is known for his humility, compassion, and efforts to reform the Church.

Pope Francis became famous for being the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from Latin America in over 1,200 years. He lived a humble lifestyle, staying in a guesthouse instead of the Apostolic Palace. He worked hard to help the poor, immigrants, and the environment. Known as the “Pope of the Slums”, he focused on social justice and reform in the Church. He also promoted LGBTQ+ inclusion and interfaith dialogue, and is famous for saying, “Who am I to judge?”. His leadership emphasized mercy, humility, and reform.

5 Facts on Pope Francis

Here are 10 facts you might not have known about his life. 

First Jesuit and Pope from the Americas

Pope Francis is the first pope from the Americas, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. He is also the first Jesuit pope, having joined the Jesuit order in 1958, known for their focus on teaching and helping others.

The "Pope of the Slums"

Pope Francis earned the nickname "the pope of the slums" for his strong focus on helping the poor and marginalized. He often visited poor communities, advocating for social justice and the Church’s support for the overlooked and oppressed.

Pope Francis Loves Tango

Pope Francis has a deep love for tango. In the biography The Great Reformer, author Austen Ivereigh shares that the Pope was a great tango dancer in his youth. He was so good that girls would take turns dancing with him. In 2010, Pope Francis himself said, “Tango comes from deep within me.”

He has only one Lung

When Pope Francis was a teenager, part of one lung was removed because of a serious infection. Since then, he has had some health problems, especially with his lungs, colon, and knees.

Pope is called the holy Father

The Pope is often called the Holy Father. The word "Pope" comes from the Latin word papa, which means "father." This shows his role as the spiritual father of Catholics around the world