Pope Francis (266º): Biography, Legacy & First Latin American Pope

Who Was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis — 266º in the Catholic list — reigned 13 March 2013– 21 April 2025 during the contemporary Catholic Church. Search interest often clusters around First Pope from Argentina. Argentine citizen of Italian descent. This Guide Catholic profile gathers background, major acts, and legacy so you can read Francis beside neighboring pontiffs.

Early Life & Background

Before election he was known as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.. Born 17 December 1936 Buenos Aires, Argentina, he entered a world shaped by politics and piety very different from today's global Church.

Historical Context

Francis (#undefined) leads or led more than a billion Catholics through globalization, secular pressure, and digital media that amplify every papal word.

Pontificate & Key Events

The pontificate (13 March 2013– 21 April 2025) centered on governance during the contemporary Catholic Church. First pope from a religious institute since Gregory XVI(1831–1846); first Jesuit pope. First pope to use a new and non-composed papal name since Lando(913–914). Facilitated the Cuban thaw(2015–2017).

Papal Acts & Achievements

Acts associated with Francis (#266, 13 March 2013– 21 April 2025) still draw historians and Catholics who want more than a one-line summary. First pope to visit and celebrate Mass on the Arabian Peninsula. Nominations to the College of Cardinals resulted in a non-European majority. Convoked the Synod on Synodality(2022). Second-oldest verified pope in office after Leo XIII. Papal motto: Miserando atque eligendo ("By having mercy and by choosing").

Key Highlights

• 266th pope of the Catholic Church
• Pontificate: 13 March 2013– 21 April 2025
• First pope born outside Europe since Gregory III(731–741) and the first from the Americas; first pope from Argentina, first from S
• First pope from a religious institute since Gregory XVI(1831–1846); first Jesuit pope.
• First pope to use a new and non-composed papal name since Lando(913–914).
• Issued the encyclical Laudato si'(2015), condemning global warming and irresponsible economic development.

Legacy in the Catholic Church

Francis remains pope 266º in the Annuario Pontificio. Set against the contemporary Catholic Church, Francis's choices show both the limits of any one pontiff and the continuity of the office he held.

Why Catholics Study This Pope Today

Reading Francis as pope 266º (13 March 2013– 21 April 2025) is a way to study how Rome answered the crises of the contemporary Catholic Church. Start with the concrete record: Issued the encyclical Laudato si'(2015), condemning global warming and irresponsible economic development. First pope born outside Europe since Gregory III(731–741) and the first from the Americas; first pope from Argentina, first from South America and the first from the Southern Hemisphere. Where bulls, conciliar acts, or encyclicals survive from this reign, they repay readers who want primary sources rather than summaries alone. Then step back to the full list of 267 popes to see where Francis sits between crisis and consolidation.

Place in the Line of Succession

Francis followed Pope Benedict XVI (265º, 19 April 2005– 28 February 2013) after a transition shaped by the politics and piety of their shared century. He was followed by Pope Leo XIV (267º, 8 May 2025–present), whose biography continues the chain on Guide Catholic. For the full chronological map, see our complete list of all 267 popes — then read neighboring biographies for contrast, not only continuity.