Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was elected the 266th pope of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. He is the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. Before his election, he served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. As pope, he emphasized pastoral care, evangelization, and the centrality of God's mercy.

Pope Francis' motto, miserando atque eligendo ("by having mercy and by choosing"), came from a homily by St. Bede on the calling of St. Matthew. This phrase held deep personal significance for him, as he experienced a profound encounter with God's mercy on the Feast of St. Matthew in 1953, leading him to his vocation. (Read more)

Lumen fidei (2013)

Lumen Fidei ("The Light of Faith") was Pope Francis' first encyclical, which explored faith as a guiding light that leads believers to truth, deepens their relationship with God, and unites them in love.

Laudato Si’ (2015)

Laudato Si’ called for environmental stewardship, care for creation, and a renewed commitment to social and ecological justice in light of the Church’s teachings.

Fratelli Tutti (2020)

Fratelli Tutti emphasized the universal call to fraternity, social friendship, and solidarity, inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Dilexit Nos (2024)

Dilexit Nos is Pope Francis' reflection on the divine and human love of Christ's Sacred Heart, calling all to rediscover and cultivate devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Pope Francis' funeral will be held at 10 a.m. local time (4 a.m. EDT) on Saturday, April 26, 2025. There will be a public viewing Wednesday morning. In his final will, Pope Francis stated he wished to be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, where he will be laid to rest after the funeral.