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The Journey of Pope Francis

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Allie Bernstein, 27

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, originally from Argentina, is the 266th pope of the Catholic Church. On March 13, 2013, Bergoglio succeeded Pope Benedict XVI and took the name of Francis. Before taking on the role of leading well over a billion Catholics spread throughout the world, Pope Francis was known for maintaining a low profile. Electors from the papal conclave that chose him said his humility and holiness were refreshing. Pope Francis is known for approaching his papacy in a unique way, causing the public to have diverse and contrasting opinions of him. His admirers praise his focus on social justice and his openness to interfaith dialogue and inclusivity, while his critics often view him as far too progressive and overly political. Generally, Pope Francis is seen as an ambiguous person, as his teachings are often open to interpretation.

Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His father, Mario José Bergoglio, and his mother, Regina María Sívori, were Italian immigrants who sought better opportunities in South America. Pope Francis was the oldest of five children and described his family by once saying, "My family is my mother, my father, my siblings. We were not wealthy; we lived in simplicity, but we were happy." Growing up modestly allowed him to appreciate the little things in life, such as literature, music, and learning. As a young man, he was described to be empathetic and warm, along as independent and determined. For his education, Pope Francis attended the Technical School of the Salesian Fathers starting at the age of twelve years old and finishing at eighteen years old with a degree that qualified him to be a chemical technician. At technical school, he developed an appreciation for science, something that would aid him in his future years as the Pope. In 1958, he joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and entered the seminary for priestly formation. During his Jesuit novitiate, he studied humanities in Santiago, Chile. Pope Francis' time at the Society of Jesus was pivotal in determining his future leadership in the Catholic Church. He desired a deeper and more holy life, which he received as he underwent rigorous spiritual exercises based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. He learned about the principles of poverty, chastity, and obedience, as well as deepening his personal relationship with God. Additionally, he studied philosophy and theology, until he was ordained as a priest in 1969.


Soon after he was ordained, he became an integral part of the Jesuit community in his country. In 1973, Pope Francis was elected as the Jesuit Provincial Superior for Argentina, meaning that he was responsible for overseeing the religious community and its goals for Argentina. In this position, he learned how to deal with both social and religious challenges. Pope Francis’s leadership skills were extremely tested for the duration of The Dirty War (1976–1983), which was a period of political repression in Argentina. He figured out how to communicate with the military dictatorship, in order to create safety for his fellow Argentinians. Many debated whether or not he handled the situation with the government correctly, given that he did not take significant action to limit the dictatorship’s power. In 1979 Pope Francis stepped down as the Provincial Superior and went along to serve the Jesuits in multiple other positions, such as the Rector of the Theological Faculty in Buenos Aires, where he honed in on improving education for future priests. From there, he became the archbishop of Buenos Aires, where he began to establish his reputation of caring for the impoverished. Church leaders ranked above him took notice of his work, and In 2001 Pope John Paul II promoted Bergoglio to the Cardinal of Buenos Aires. Pope Francis officially became a prominent member of the Latin American Church, as he became widely known for his commitment to social justice.


After serving as the Cardinal of Buenos Aires for twelve years, Pope Benedict XVI resigned and the papal conclave had to elect a new pope. Bergoglio was not considered a frontrunner despite his numerous achievements and his excellent reputation within the Catholic church, due to him being overshadowed by other strong candidates such as Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan and Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada. However, as more grew to recognize his humility and effective leadership, he gained the support of many Cardinals. On March 13, 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope and honored St. Francis of Assisi by selecting the name Pope Francis. In the end, he was selected to lead the Catholic church because of his experience in leading the Latin American Church, his global appeal, and his focus on social justice.


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