Jorge Mario Bergoglio will be remembered for many things before, during, and long after his papacy: His broad smile. His humility. His compassion. Above all, his tireless efforts to unite a world constantly on the edge of chaos will not go unnoticed.
The Argentine-born Pope Francis died at 88 on Monday after leading the Roman Catholic Church for more than a decade. His final public appearance was on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where he offered a “Happy Easter” to thousands of worshippers, his parting blessing to a world he so deeply loved.
Growing Up
Born in Buenos Aires on 17 December 1936, he was the eldest of five children. His parents had fled fascist Italy in search of peace. In his youth, Jorge took on jobs as a nightclub bouncer and floor sweeper, all while nurturing his love for San Lorenzo de Almagro, his local football club, a passion he never outgrew, even as he embraced the priesthood in 1969.
In 1973, he rose swiftly to become the head of Argentina’s Jesuits, a powerful Catholic order known for its intellectual and missionary zeal. Even then, his leadership was defined by a quiet commitment to justice and care for the marginalised. But his actions during Argentina’s dark military dictatorship were not without controversy.
Critics accused him of not doing enough, especially after two priests were kidnapped. Bergoglio, however, insisted that speaking out then meant risking more lives, and the Vatican has consistently denied any wrongdoing on his part.
Rise In The Church
In 1998, he was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires. It was there he became known for his deep pastoral care and his quiet simplicity. He shunned privilege, often riding the bus and living in modest quarters. His concern for the poor and forgotten only grew. When Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in 2001, many began to see the quiet man from Argentina as a future leader of the Church.
And then, on 13 March 2013, he stepped out onto the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square as Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Global South, and the first to choose a name honouring St Francis of Assisi, the saint of the poor and of nature.
A Time of Impact
His papacy would be marked by disruption, gentle, bold, and deeply human. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he made the difficult choice to cancel public appearances to curb the spread of the virus. But he did not hide.
In one of his most powerful acts, he stood alone in an empty St Peter’s Square, praying for the world. Later, he called vaccination a universal responsibility, standing firmly for science, compassion, and moral leadership.
In 2022, he did what no Pope had done in over a century, he buried his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI. By then, his own health was declining. Still, Francis pushed forward, visiting conflict zones, championing interfaith dialogue, and urging the world to care for its most vulnerable.
In 2023, he travelled to South Sudan, begging its leaders to end years of violence. He called for peace in Ukraine, though some were disappointed by what they saw as a cautious tone towards Russia’s invasion. Yet, for Francis, every message was a plea, for unity, for understanding, for an end to the absurdities of war.
In 2024, he embarked on an ambitious journey across continents, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore. Even as his strength faded, his mission never wavered.
By March 2025, he was gravely ill, spending five weeks in hospital with pneumonia in both lungs. And still, on Easter Sunday, he appeared once more before the faithful. Fragile, yet present. Worn, yet luminous. One last time, he gave his blessing.
Pope Francis will not only be remembered as a pontiff, but as a man who bore the world on his shoulders with grace and unwavering love. In life and in death, he reminded humanity of the enduring power of compassion.
