His 12-year papacy was marked by efforts to reform and modernize the Church, often facing internal divisions and challenges.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1936, he was elected pope in 2013, succeeding Benedict XVI. His tenure was characterized by a commitment to simplicity, social justice, and outreach to marginalized communities.
Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis dealt with multiple health issues, including chronic knee and back pain that required the use of a wheelchair. In November 2024, he requested to be buried in a simple, zinc-lined wooden casket, deviating from the traditional three interlocking caskets used for previous popes. He also chose to be interred at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, a place of personal significance, instead of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The pope was admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection, requiring mechanical ventilation at night and extensive respiratory physiotherapy.
