• 2024-02

Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio (born December 17, 1936) is an Argentine bishop, theologian, and prelate who is the current pope of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. He is the 266th and current pope, and the first Jesuit pope. He is the first pope from the Americas and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.

Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and ordained to the priesthood in 1969. He became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was created a cardinal in 2001. He was elected pope on March 13, 2013, after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Francis has been praised for his humility, simplicity, and compassion. He has also been a vocal critic of social injustice, materialism, and environmental degradation. He has called for a more inclusive and merciful church, and he has made efforts to improve relations with other religions.

Francis has also been a controversial figure. He has been criticized for his handling of the clerical sexual abuse scandal, his support for the ordination of married men in the Amazon rainforest, and his opposition to contraception.

Despite the controversies, Francis remains a popular figure among Catholics and non-Catholics alike. He is seen as a symbol of hope and change, and he has inspired many people around the world.

Here are some additional facts about Pope Francis:

He is the oldest pope to be elected since Pope Clement XII in 1730.
He is the first pope to take the name Francis.
He is the first pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII in 1415.
He is the first pope to visit the United States since Pope John Paul II in 1995.
He is the first pope to visit Cuba.
He is the first pope to meet with a Russian Orthodox patriarch since the Great Schism of 1054.
He is the first pope to write an encyclical on ecology.
He is the first pope to canonize two popes at the same time (Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II).

Pope Francis is a complex and controversial figure, but he is also a man of great faith and compassion. He has inspired millions of people around the world, and he continues to be a powerful voice for justice, peace, and love.