Who is Pope Francis?

Recognized as the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has undoubtedly left his mark on his pontificate. Dedicated to his mission, he has never stopped working to strengthen the Church and meet its many challenges. In this article, you'll learn more about the life, pontificate, ideologies and impact of the illustrious Pope Francis.

Before continuing, we invite you to read our latest news articles. And following your reading of the article on Pope Francis, you can discover one of our latest publications just below:

• How to keep the faith in difficult times?
• Birth of Christianity in the Roman Empire: how did it all begin?

Who is Pope Francis?

Pope Francis, whose real name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born in Argentina in 1936. The son of Italian parents, he studied philosophy and theology at universities in Argentina and Germany. From an early age, Pope Francis showed his love for God and his desire to serve Him. At the age of 17, he became aware of his vocation. A few years later, this devotion enabled him toenter the ranks of God's servants, becoming a priest in 1969. Following this, he served as bishop in Argentina before being named cardinal in 2001.

Pontificate: what do we need to know about Pope Francis?

Pope Francis was elected pope in 2013, succeeding Pope Benedict XVI. His election was considered a surprising choice, as he was not initially seen as a favorite. However, throughout his papal tenure, he proved that he was the best person to choose. From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis has sought to implement a vision of a Church that is more open and engaged with the world. From the time of his election to the present day, Pope Francis has therefore always worked to ensure that the Church becomes much more involved in the world's problems and helps it to solve them. For him, this is the way to draw the world's attention to what God can and will do for the well-being of the world and its inhabitants.

What are Pope Francis' ideologies?

Pope Francis is known for his broad ideologies. The uniqueness of this religious personality is revealed through his commitment to the poor, the environment, migrants, Christian unity and Church reform. In his philosophy, he calls Catholics to be “missionaries of mercy”. With regard to the Church, he wants this house of God to be a refuge for all, not a fortress for the privileged. Pope Francis also called for a greater commitment to environmental protection, describing the environmental crisis as a “sin against God”. Also, for him, governments must act more firmly to respect workers' rights and protect migrants.

What impact has Pope Francis had on the world?

Since his election, Pope Francis has had a significant impact on the world. His message of compassion for the poor and marginalized has been of great help to the disadvantaged. For many people, the Pope has been able to heal wounded and broken hearts. Pope Francis has further impacted today's world on environmental issues and helped put these issues on the global political agenda. He has also been an advocate of peace and reconciliation, working to bring religious communities and churches closer together.

In addition to all this, Pope Francis has worked particularly hard to reform the Church, calling for greater transparency and accountability.

In short, Pope Francis is an exceptional spiritual leader who has had a significant impact on the Catholic Church and far beyond. His commitment to the poor, the environment, migrants and Christian unity has inspired many Catholics around the world.