Pope Francis (1936–2025), born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, reshaped the papacy with a message rooted in humility, inclusion, and peace. As the first Pope from the Americas and the Jesuit order, and the first non-European pontiff in over 1,300 years, he brought a distinctive voice to the Catholic Church — one deeply committed to social justice, interfaith dialogue, and care for the marginalised.

His choice of name, Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, reflected his vision: a papacy dedicated to simplicity, compassion, and protection of both people and the planet. St. Francis, also Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite Christian saint, was revered for rejecting material wealth, embracing peace, and loving all creation — values that Pope Francis embodied throughout his life.

Born in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants fleeing fascism, Francis earned a diploma in chemistry before a life-threatening illness in his 20s led him to pursue the priesthood. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1958 and rose through the Church’s ranks, becoming Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a Cardinal in 2001.

As Archbishop, he was known for his modest lifestyle — choosing a small apartment over the official residence, riding public transport, and cooking his own meals — and his focus on outreach to the poor and underprivileged.

When elected the 266th Pope in 2013 following Benedict XVI’s historic resignation, he immediately stood out for his accessibility and humility. His papacy emphasized mercy over judgment, inclusivity over exclusion, and action over opulence.

Key aspects of his transformative legacy include:

• Social justice & poverty alleviation: He consistently championed the poor, opposed consumerism, and criticized unchecked capitalism.
• Progressive Church reforms: He welcomed LGBTQ individuals with compassion, appointed women to key Vatican roles, and promoted decentralization within the Church.
• Global diplomacy & peace efforts: He played a critical role in restoring U.S.-Cuba relations, engaged in dialogue with China, and made historic visits to Israel, Palestine, Iraq, and the UAE.
• Climate and environment: He issued the landmark encyclical Laudato Si’ on climate change, calling for urgent ecological action.
• Interfaith outreach: He met with top Islamic and Jewish leaders, became the first Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula, and emphasized unity over division.

Despite his efforts, some goals — like mediating peace in the Russia-Ukraine war — remained unfulfilled. Still, he remained an unwavering voice for nonviolence, dialogue, and diplomacy.

His final public appearance was on Easter Sunday 2025, where he gave his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) blessing, urging for global disarmament, prisoner releases, and an end to conflict in places like Gaza.

“The principle of humanity never fails to be the hallmark of our daily actions,” he said — words that now serve as a fitting epitaph.

Pope Francis leaves behind a Church in transition and a world still grappling with division. But his legacy stands as a beacon of moral clarity and a call to build bridges in times of war, poverty, and spiritual crisis.