The Catholic Church and its one billion three hundred million faithful mourn Pope Francis, who passed away yesterday morning at 7:35 a.m. in the Vatican. The Argentine Jesuit Jorge Mario Bergoglio was 88 years old. Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936, to Piedmontese emigrants, his father Mario was an accountant employed by the railways, while his mother, Regina Sivori, took care of the home and the education of their five children. Elected Pope on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Benedict XVI, he chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. He was the first Jesuit to become Pope and the first pontiff from the American continent. To the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he greeted them with the now-famous words: “Brothers and sisters, good evening! You know that the duty of the Conclave was to give Rome a bishop. It seems my brothers, the Cardinals, went almost to the end of the world to get him, but here we are. I thank you for your welcome. The diocesan community of Rome has its bishop: thank you!”

THE TWO POPES
For many years, he lived in harmony with his predecessor, Josef Ratzinger, who had also chosen to reside within the Vatican walls. Bergoglio's life is one of human and spiritual growth. After graduating as a chemical technician, he chose the path of the priesthood and entered the diocesan seminary of Buenos Aires. On March 11, 1958, he joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. Having completed his humanities studies in Chile, he returned to Argentina, where he earned a degree in philosophy from the San José College in San Miguel. From 1967 to 1970, he studied theology, and on December 13, 1969, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano. He continued his studies in Spain between 1970 and 1971, and on April 22, 1973, he made his final profession as a Jesuit. That same year, he was appointed Provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina. After a period in Germany, Cardinal Quarracino invited him to work closely with him in Buenos Aires. On May 20, 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and titular bishop of Auca. On June 27, he was ordained bishop by Cardinal Quarracino. His episcopal motto, Miserando atque eligendo, and the IHS Christogram, the symbol of the Society of Jesus, were featured in his coat of arms.

CARDINAL IN ARGENTINA
On June 3, 1997, he was promoted to coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires. Less than nine months later, following Cardinal Quarracino’s death, he succeeded him as archbishop and primate of Argentina on February 28, 1998. During the consistory of February 21, 2001, Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal. Meanwhile, Bergoglio’s figure was becoming increasingly popular in Latin America. As Archbishop of Buenos Aires – a city of three million people – he envisioned a missionary project centered on communion and evangelization. Four key objectives defined his ministry: open and fraternal communities, active lay participation, evangelizing every resident of the city, and assisting the poor and sick. In Buenos Aires, Bergoglio was a simple shepherd, beloved by his diocese, often traveling across the city, even using the subway and buses. “My people are poor, and I am one of them,” he once said to explain his choice to live in a modest apartment and prepare his own meals. To his priests, he always emphasized mercy, courage, and open doors. The greatest danger to the Church, he explained, was “the spiritual worldliness” that de Lubac spoke of, meaning “putting oneself at the center.” When he spoke about social justice, he encouraged people to turn to the Catechism, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes.

THE PAPACY
Social justice was one of the recurring themes of his papacy. Pope Francis will be remembered for many reasons. The first – appreciated even by many non-Catholics – was his strong focus on helping the poor and marginalized, promoting a Church that is closer to ordinary people. His informal and approachable style, coupled with his rejection of luxury and privilege (he always lived in a guesthouse), marked a departure from his predecessors. Pope Francis initiated significant reforms within the Roman Curia, striving to make the Vatican’s administration more transparent and efficient. He worked to improve relations with other religions, fostering dialogue. He was able to address the concerns of young people, emphasizing the importance of caring for the environment and encouraging the Church and its faithful to take action to protect the Earth. He faced many opponents within the ranks of conservative clericalism – particularly from North America – and he confronted various crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating leadership and compassion. One of the most memorable images from his pontificate was that evening on March 27, 2020, when Pope Francis, alone in the empty St. Peter’s Square, prayed for an end to the pandemic.