Pope Francis was elected pope on March 13, 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI resigned on February 28, 2013. He served as head of the papacy for 12 years, 1 month, and 1 week, during which he proved unique in several ways.
Although Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio received some votes in the 2005 Conclave, they eventually elected Cardinal Ratzinger to become Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Bergoglio was also not considered the leading contender going into the 2013 conclave. Yet, when the white smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, it indicated that he had been elected the 266th pope.
Papal Firsts
Pope Francis was the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936. All previous popes have been from Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. His Latin American background brought a perspective shaped by the Global South, emphasizing poverty, inequality, and colonial legacies. This shift reflects the Church’s growing demographic center in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, where most Catholics now live.
Pope Francis was also the first Jesuit elected as pope. Jorge Bergoglio joined the Jesuit order as a novice on March 11, 1958, when he was 21. He made his final vows as a full Jesuit (called solemn profession) in 1973 and became the provincial superior (leader) of the Jesuits in Argentina that same year. It was a huge responsibility for such a young man and allowed him to develop his leadership skills.
He was the first pope to choose Francis as his papal name. He selected the name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century saint, famous for his humility, love of the poor, and care for creation—all themes that Pope Francis embraced and lived during his papacy.
Pope Francis was the first pope in modern times to coexist with a living predecessor. Popes usually serve until they die. Pope Benedict was the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415, resulting in Pope Francis reigning while Pope Emeritus Benedict was still alive, which raised questions about authority and influence. Pope Francis navigated potential challenges with strong leadership while remaining respectful and cordial in dealing with his predecessor. Benedict passed away on December 31, 2022.
Pope Francis was the first pope to address clergy sex abuse as a global crisis. While clergy sex abuse scandals predate his papacy, Francis was the first to address it systematically on a global scale, convening a 2019 Vatican summit and issuing reforms like Vos Estis Lux Mundi, issued on May 7 of that year, to hold bishops accountable. His actions mark a shift toward transparency and victim-centered responses, a challenge no prior pope faced to this degree. It made reporting abuse mandatory, set up systems for people to report abuse or misconduct, established procedures for investigating accusations, and emphasized protecting whistleblowers and victims from retaliation.
Pope Francis was the first pope to address a joint session of the United States Congress. This historic event took place on September 24, 2015. This unprecedented opportunity showed the regard the American government has for the Papacy and the influence Pope Francis has in American politics.
Advocacy
Pope Francis emphasized mercy and pastoral outreach. Francis declared an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy (2015-2016), a rare event typically held every 25 years, to emphasize forgiveness and reconciliation. His pastoral style prioritized compassion over rigid doctrine. He made it possible that some divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, depending on their individual circumstances, might be able to receive Communion.
He introduced a new approach that has softened the Church’s tone on controversial issues. The attitude is exemplified by phrases like “Who am I to judge?” spoken regarding gay Catholics. Documents like the Amoris Laetitia (2016) allow greater flexibility in pastoral care, a shift from the doctrinal focus of his predecessors like John Paul II and Benedict XVI. This new approach sparked criticism from traditionalists and may influence the election of subsequent popes.
Pope Francis positioned the Church as a global leader on climate advocacy by issuing an encyclical, Laudato Si’, in 2015. The encyclical was entirely dedicated to environmental issues, linking ecological crises to social injustice. It influenced secular debates and aligned the Church with sustainability movements globally. It marked a departure from prior encyclicals that were primarily theological.
Pope Francis has made migration a hallmark of his papacy. He visited refugee camps like Lampedusa in 2013 and consistently advocated for migrants’ rights to a level unmatched by predecessors. His global platform amplified issues like immigration and economic inequality. He was an outspoken critic of the Trump Administration’s border and immigration policies. In 2016, he famously said: “A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.” This aligns with his liberation theology influences.
Governance
Pope Francis staunchly supported synodality, encouraging broader consultation with bishops, clergy, and laity through events like the Synod on Synodality (2021-2024). This participatory model was a departure from the top-down governance of most of his predecessors. It aimed to make the Church more inclusive and responsive, though it has faced resistance from conservatives wary of diluting papal authority.
The Roman Curia is essentially the Vatican’s central government. For decades, people inside and outside the Church have criticized the Roman Curia for being too bureaucratic, political, and corrupt. Pope Francis, more than any of his predecessors, moved to bring about changes to the system.
Francis emphasized that the Curia must have a mission-first mindset and focus on evangelization, not just administration. He merged departments to streamline operations and installed laity, including women, into leadership positions. These positions used to be reserved for bishops and cardinals. Renewable term limits now prevent lifelong, entrenched bureaucracies.
Pope Francis’s largest reforms came in the form of a new document, Praedicate Evangelium (“Preach the Gospel”), issued in 2022. His reforms saw the decentralization of power in the Roman Curia.
The Vatican has often faced financial scandals related to missing money and accusations of corruption. Pope Francis oversaw reforms, such as establishing the Council for the Economy to oversee finances, the Secretariat for the Economy to manage day-to-day financial operations, and the Office of the Auditor General for independent audits. The Vatican hired outside experts to help with reforms and systems, allowing for better control of finances and increased transparency.
The focus on outreach under Pope Francis was not just theoretical. Francis prioritized interfaith dialogue, becoming the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula in 2019. While there, he signed a peace declaration with Muslim leaders called the Document on Human Fraternity. He also engaged extensively with Orthodox Christians and other faiths. He worked to foster global religious cooperation, positioning himself as a bridge-builder in a polarized world. His efforts went beyond those of John Paul II or Benedict XVI.
Personal Lifestyle
Pope Francis shunned traditional papal luxuries. He chose to reside in a small unit, consisting of a bedroom and study, in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta guesthouse instead of occupying the grandiose Apostolic Palace. He preferred driving modest vehicles, which aligned with his environmental advocacy, and he carried his own bag rather than having servants do it. He reportedly wore a Swatch watch, rather than a luxury timepiece, and chose a silver-plated papal ring, rather than the usual gold. He seldom wore the papal ring, preferring his episcopal ring from Argentina. He preferred simple liturgical vestments rather than embroidered or ornate stoles and chasubles. This level of personal simplicity is rare for a pope.
Pope Francis also chose to wear simple black shoes rather than the papal red shoes traditionally worn by popes. It is one way in which his dedication to living a simple life manifested and endeared him to many Catholics. It contrasted his papal reign with prior popes like Pius XII or John Paul II.
Pope Francis was a unique pope in many ways. His list of papal firsts is unlikely to be matched any time soon, and his radical changes to the papal system may result in the election of a more traditional pope as his successor. That said, his influence on the Church and world politics is undeniable. Despite his criticism of the Trump Administration, President Trump plans to attend Pope Francis’ funeral. Pope John Paul II was the first to have a sitting president, George W. Bush, and two former presidents, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, attending his funeral. This trend of US presidents attending papal funerals indicates the importance of the Papacy in international affairs and particularly in the American political landscape.
The 2023-24 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study indicated that approximately 20% of the US population identifies as Catholic. The 2025 easter baptismal numbers showed a 40-70% increase in youth baptism into the Catholic faith. Some claim that the renewed interest in Catholicism is, at least partly, due to Pope Francis and his interest in matters relevant to the youth.
