Pope Francis was the leader of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years. He died peacefully on April 21, 2025. He was 88 years old.
Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936. As a boy, he enjoyed sports like basketball and soccer. He also liked dancing the tango. He was a chemist before he became a priest.
Soon Bergoglio became a leader within the Catholic Church. He became a bishop in 1992 and was named archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001 he was made a cardinal, which is a high position in the Church. Then, in 2013 he was chosen to be the pope. He was the first pope from Latin America. He was also the first pope to take the name “Francis.” He chose this name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis was known for his love of animals. He also wanted to help the poor.
Pope Francis chose to live a simple life. Instead of moving to the papal palace, he lived in a small room in a guest house. He did not want expensive things. He chose to walk or take a bus when he could. He wore plain white robes.
As head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis worked hard to make the world a better place. He believed in helping the poor. He also wanted to improve the lives of migrants and refugees around the world. He called on world leaders to take climate change seriously. He promoted peace. He called for an end to war.
Pope Francis visited many countries. He met with people of all religions and backgrounds. He listened to their stories. He gave them hope and reminded them they were loved. Pope Francis smiled and spoke gently to everyone he met. He reminded people to care for the Earth. He told people to forgive one another, and to choose peace.
What Do You Think? Some people call Pope Francis the “People’s Pope.” Why do you think that is?
Photo Credit: TK
