Yamin Mohammad Munshi
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, entered the world on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His early life offers a window into the humble beginnings of the man who would become the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first non-European pope in over a millennium. His background, shaped by immigrant roots, modest upbringing, and a deep connection to both faith and service, laid the foundation for his future as a transformative figure in the Catholic Church.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was the eldest of five children in a working-class family. His father, Mario José Bergoglio, was an Italian immigrant and railway worker, while his mother, Regina María Sívori, was a homemaker of Italian descent born in Argentina. The values instilled in him by his family—hard work, humility, compassion, and religious devotion—had a lasting influence on his character.
As a child, Jorge was known to be thoughtful and deeply spiritual. He attended a local technical secondary school and earned a diploma as a chemical technician. However, he soon felt a calling to religious life and entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958. His decision marked the beginning of a life dedicated to spiritual service, education, and social justice.
Jorge’s formation as a Jesuit was marked by rigorous academic study and pastoral work. He studied philosophy and theology in Buenos Aires and Chile and was ordained a priest in 1969. As a young priest, he quickly stood out for his intelligence, leadership, and dedication to serving the poor. He later taught literature and psychology, demonstrating a commitment not just to religious life, but to the development of young minds.
In 1973, at the age of 36, he became the provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina. This role placed him in a position of leadership during a tumultuous time in Argentine history, marked by political unrest and violence. During this period, Bergoglio emphasized humility, simplicity, and a strong pastoral approach to ministry—qualities that would become hallmarks of his papacy decades later.
He was elected the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013. As the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope, his election marked a turning point in the history of the Church.
From the very beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis distinguished himself with his modesty and personal humility. He chose to live in the simpler Vatican guesthouse rather than the traditional papal apartments and took his name from Saint Francis of Assisi, a symbol of humility and peace. This gesture set the tone for his approach to leadership—one rooted in service and compassion rather than authority and opulence.
A central theme of Pope Francis’s papacy was a deep concern for the poor and marginalized. He spoke out against economic inequality, consumerism, and environmental degradation consistently. His 2015 encyclical *Laudato Si’* called for urgent action to combat climate change and protect the planet, framing environmental issues as moral and spiritual concerns. This encyclical marked a significant moment in the Church’s engagement with global environmental policy.
Pope Francis also focused on making the Church more inclusive and merciful. He opened the door to greater discussion on previously controversial issues such as divorce, homosexuality, and the role of women in the Church. His famous quote, “Who am I to judge?” regarding homosexual individuals seeking God, reflected a more compassionate and understanding tone that resonated with many Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
Since the beginning of his papacy, he initiated several significant reforms within the Catholic Church, aiming to make it more transparent, compassionate, and relevant to the modern world. His reforms touched on areas including church governance, financial transparency, pastoral care and interfaith dialogue;
1. Reforming the Curia and Church Governance:
One of Pope Francis’ earliest and most ambitious goals was to reform the Roman Curia, the administrative heart of the Vatican. Recognizing the need for a more efficient, accountable, and mission-oriented bureaucracy, he initiated a major overhaul, culminating in the 2022 apostolic constitution *Praedicate Evangelium* (Preach the Gospel). This document restructured the Curia, placing evangelization at the center of church operations and promoting decentralization by giving more responsibility to local bishops’ conferences. It also opened leadership roles within the Curia to laypeople, including women, breaking long-standing traditions.
2. Financial and Institutional Transparency:
The Vatican’s finances have long been criticized for lack of transparency and accountability. Pope Francis has taken steps to address this by creating the Secretariat for the Economy and appointing independent oversight bodies to audit the Vatican’s financial activities. He has supported investigations into corruption and mismanagement, and even removed high-ranking officials when necessary. His firm stance on financial reform demonstrates a commitment to integrity and stewardship in Church affairs.
3. Pastoral Reforms and Inclusivity:
Pope Francis has placed strong emphasis on mercy and pastoral care, especially in reaching out to those marginalized by traditional Church teachings. In his apostolic exhortation *Amoris Laetitia* (2016), he opened the door for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion under certain circumstances, encouraging discernment over rigid rules. His emphasis on a more inclusive church extends to LGBTQ+ individuals, whom he has welcomed with the phrase, “Who am I to judge?” Though he has not changed doctrine, his tone has fostered a more compassionate and understanding approach.
4. Clerical Abuse and Accountability;
In response to the global sexual abuse crisis, Pope Francis has introduced several measures to hold Church leaders accountable. He convened a global summit on clerical abuse in 2019 and issued the *Vos Estis Lux Mundi* decree, which established procedures for reporting abuse and misconduct by bishops. Though some critics argue more must be done, these steps mark a significant shift towards accountability and justice for survivors.
Pope Francis, since his election in 2013, emerged as a global symbol of peace, humility, and dialogue. As the head of the Roman Catholic Church, he held a position of immense influence not just within Christianity but across the broader religious and political spectrum. One of the most significant aspects of his papacy was his unwavering commitment to promoting interfaith harmony—a mission rooted in compassion, mutual respect, and the shared values of humanity.
From the very beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of building bridges rather than walls. His approach to interfaith dialogue was grounded in the belief that all people, regardless of religious affiliation, are children of God. This message has resonated deeply in a world often marked by religious tension and conflict. He actively engaged with leaders from Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other faiths to foster understanding and cooperation.
A landmark moment in Pope Francis’s interfaith efforts came in 2019, when he signed the **Document on Human Fraternity** in Abu Dhabi with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayeb. This historic declaration called for peace, coexistence, and the rejection of violence in the name of religion. It marked the first time a pope visited the Arabian Peninsula and symbolized a new chapter in Christian-Muslim relations. The document advocates for universal human values such as justice, mercy, and peace, laying a foundation for interreligious cooperation.
Pope Francis also made significant gestures toward the Jewish community, reinforcing the shared spiritual heritage of Christianity and Judaism. He condemned antisemitism in all forms and visited key Jewish sites, including the Western Wall in Jerusalem and concentration camp memorials in Europe, to honor the victims of the Holocaust and promote reconciliation.Beyond high-profile visits and declarations, Pope Francis led by example. His inclusive language, his efforts to reach out to marginalized communities, and his advocacy for the poor and refugees spoke to the universal ethics shared by many faith traditions. He highlighted the importance of promoting peace and the need to refrain from hate or division.
Now gone, Pope Francis is remembered not only as a reformer but as a deeply human leader. He did not change core doctrines of the Church, but he shifted its tone in a profound and lasting way. He made the Catholic Church more accessible, more compassionate, and more connected to the modern world. His legacy lives on in the renewed hope of countless believers, in the dialogues he began, and in the global conscience he helped awaken.
Author is the student of History, He can be mailed at munshiyamin5@gmail.com