The sad news that broke on Easter Monday April 21, 2025, that Pope Francis had passed away was unexpected as he made a surprise appearance on Easter Sunday to deliver the Easter Vigil at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican Square.

The faithful of Catholic Christians from across the world attended the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection - which He showed to his followers that there is eternal life after the physical death of the body - Easter Sunday service on April 20, 2025, without realising it would be the last time they would see Pope Francis.

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Flores, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

He followed his calling from God after overcoming illness and joined the school of theology at the Inmaculada Concepción Seminary, in Villa Devoto, Buenos Aires.

After three years he entered the Society of Jesus as a novice on March 11, 1958, and officially became a Jesuit after his novitiate on March 12, 1960.

In 1960, Pope Francis got a Master's degree (licentiate) in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo de San José.

From 1964 to 1966 he taught at the Colegio Inmaculada Concepción in Santa Fe and later on at the Colegio del Salvador.

After further theological studies he eventually was ordained on December 13, 1969, by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano.

After being a Professor of Theology at the same theological college Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel he studied when he moved on and up to Provincial Superior of the Society of Jesus in Argentina and fulfilled his six-year term in 1979.

Pope Francis rose to become the Archbishop of Argentina on February 1998, which he oversaw reforms in the way the Catholic Church in Argentina financed itself and true to his spirit of being humble throughout his life put into place strict financial policies and implemented Catholic priests to go into the poorest areas of Argentina known as the shanty towns to help the poor, vulnerable and working class who were often marginalised and forgotten in society.

After the death of Pope John Paul II, he nearly became the Pope but after the second vote he lost out to Cardinal Ratzinger, who chose the name Benedict XVI and was the 265th Pope.

Pope Francis wanted to retire and was called to the Vatican by Pope Benedict XVI where they held talks for several days and in which the Pope spoke of his desire and firm decision to retire as Pope and wanted Pope Francis to succeed him.

What is interesting is that both Pope's wanted to retire before they became Pope, and they both had similar histories with social unrest in their respective formative youthful lives, with Pope Benedict XVI distaste with the Nazis during World War II, and Pope Francis during the military junta and subsequent Dirty War period where any group or person who opposed their repressive, oppressive and suppressive military junta rule including the Catholic clergy were brutally tortured, murdered and many were thrown into the Atlantic Ocean.

Pope Francis reformed the Catholic Church during his papacy with a more understanding and liberal attitude especially to the modern world of welcoming the communities from the LGBTQ+, embracing those fleeing war and violence and becoming refugees in many countries especially in the West.

Wherever Pope Francis went he often wanted to reconcile communities and ask for forgiveness during the most difficult periods of his life as part of the Catholic clergy in Argentina especially in the 1980s junta military rule of not thinking he did enough to stand up against the barbarism taking place within the country often known as state sponsor terrorism against the people, and child sexual abuse by Catholic priests, which came to light over the past twenty-years.

Pope Francis encouraged interfaith dialogue and addressed the world's wars and conflicts which often didn't include Catholics but felt that we are all God's children regardless of background or religious faith.

When he became Pope Francis, he chose not to wear the official Papal regalia and insignia garments, and he just wore his white ordinary dress, and he didn't live in the Apostolic Palace but lived in more humble accommodation reserved for visitors The Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City.

Pope Francis was God's Ambassador here on Earth, led over a billion Catholics during his Papacy, and we thank him for his service to humanity within the Catholic Church.

Born December 17, 2025

Died April 21, 2025

Papacy began March 13, 2013

Papacy ended April 21, 2025

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