Pope Francis

The man who would become Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina in 1936. At the age of 21 he was inspired to enter the Society of Jesus (known as the Jesuits) and devote himself to the priesthood. He became a Jesuit in 1960 and earned qualifications to teach literature and psychology, which he did at the high school level in the 1960s. He then pursued theological studies and was ordained as a priest at the end of 1969. He then spent the next three decades serving the church in various capacities, culminating in his appointment as Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.

From this point, Bergoglio earned a reputation as a man of the people and a champion of justice, particularly noted for his work with the poor. He was appointed a cardinal in 2001 and, following the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005, he was considered a potential candidate for Pope. Ultimately he would become Pope Francis, but not until 2013, becoming the first non-European Pope since 741. As a religious leader, he was considered relatively liberal and devoted to social justice. Among his beliefs was one that supported sport as a vessel for peace, and he was awarded the Olympic Order in Gold in the year of his election. He died in April 2025 at the age of 88, following the effects of a stroke.