Amazeview Team
With compassion and a dedication to social justice, Pope Francis guides Catholics through times of social and global turbulence, as well as institutional fragmentation. There have not been many advancements in papal succession, as Pope Francis will continue to remain as the 266th Pope by 2025. He has pledged to do everything in his power to make reforms in the way people are treated in society and unite the environment with people.
Early Life and Calling
The Montagnari family, ancestors of immigrants who fled Italy for South America, fought relentlessly to ensure their children’s prosperity. The family’s leader, Mario Bergoglio, worked as a railway accountant, while Regina Maria Sivori stayed at home with her children. These trials inspired their son, who studied chemistry before joining the Society of Jesus in 1958. Despite encountering life-altering hardships, barriers can act as encouragement for others. The Montagnari family’s commitment to their children’s education and missionary activity continues to inspire young people across South America.
A Humble Leader in Argentina
Bergoglio, a well-known person in Argentina, first served as the auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires before becoming archbishop in 1998. He eschewed opulence and status in favor of spiritual sincerity and advocacy for the economically downtrodden. Bergoglio, born in 1936, joined the Jesuits in 1958 and later served as Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Argentina from 1973 to 1979. Despite contentious acts during the “Dirty War” period, he remained devoted to protecting individuals targeted by the authorities. Bergoglio was appointed to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001, increasing his status and influence inside the Church.
Historic Papal Election
Pope Francis is the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Bergoglio became Francis after St. Francis of Assisi, who is centered around peace and caring for creation. This signified the new Pope’s vision of a church bound to provide embrace and affection toward service.
- The first pope from the Americas
- The first Jesuit pope
- The first to take the name Francis
From the first day of his papacy, he encouraged the citizens to bless him before receiving a blessing from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, signaling a calmer and humbler stance. This was a change from the past, welcoming a kinder and more approachable Vatican.
A Papacy of Reform and Renewal
The Church now wavers in the leadership of Pope Francis, who initiated an unprecedented transformation to solve past enduring problems, including giving new energy to the institution.
1. Vatican Reform and Financial Transparency
He went on to refurbish the administrative and financial systems of the Vatican, which had been untouchable to reform, spearheaded by Pope Francis. Through removing layers in the Church’s Curia, he achieved goals of making the church’s central bureaucratic body more intuitive and more cautious in the processes around Catholic Charity institutions. Stricter guidelines for financial honesty were also instituted. Changes were made to the mismanaged and corrupt Vatican Bank.
2. A Moral Voice on Global Issues
Engagement with emerging crises is one of the areas Pope Francis has contributed to most profoundly. He issued the encyclical Laudato Si’ in 2015, which was the first encyclical to address climate change and the deterioration of nature. This document carved out a position for the Catholic Church as one of the foremost moral authorities, stressing the need for all people to work together to protect “our common home.”
His pleas have also been directed against extreme and relative poverty, servile marriage, the abuse of migrants, and wars for profit, avowing that all these and many other ills need a radical reshaping of what the world order stands for.
3. Emphasis on Mercy and Inclusion
Papal assistants have remarked that Pope Francis has consistently been more concerned with pastoral care than with implementing church rules. He has advocated for a less rigid approach to the ecclesiastical doctrine by saying in 2013, “Who am I to judge?” when some gay Catholics looking for God were cited. While maintaining traditional teachings, he has shown goodwill by allowing discussion on the need to include LGBTQ+ people, administering communion to divorced and remarried Catholics, and women’s role in the Church.
4. Global Diplomacy and Interfaith Outreach
As a global diplomat, Pope Francis is an unyielding advocate for peace. He has, over the past two years, made much more explicit use of his international platform. Behind the scenes during 2014, he was critical in the quiet restoration of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba. Additionally, his outreach to leaders of Islam, Judaism, and Eastern Orthodoxy has fostered a spirit of interreligious dialogue and mutual respect.
5. Promoting Synodality
In recent years, Francis has championed the concept of synodality—a Church that listens, consults, and walks together. This model encourages greater participation from laypeople, particularly women, and emphasizes listening to diverse voices across the global Church. His ongoing efforts to decentralize authority mark a shift toward a more collaborative and inclusive Church structure.
Challenges and Tensions
Despite his popularity with many Catholics and non-Catholics alike, Pope Francis has faced internal opposition. Some conservative church leaders have criticized his progressive approach and perceived ambiguity on doctrinal matters. His handling of the clergy sexual abuse crisis has also drawn both praise and critique; while he has taken steps toward accountability, many believe more decisive action is still needed.
An Ongoing Legacy
Now in his late 80s, Pope Francis remains active, though questions about succession and the future direction of the Church continue to surface. Yet his impact is undeniable. He has reshaped the papacy in ways few thought possible, reminding the world of the Church’s potential to be a force for good, for justice, and for mercy.
Conclusion
Pope Francis’s life—from the streets of Buenos Aires to the heart of the Vatican—exemplifies a profound journey of faith, humility, and service. His leadership reflects a church in transition: one that seeks not only to preserve tradition but also to respond compassionately to the modern world. As history continues to unfold, Pope Francis’s papacy stands as a beacon of conscience in turbulent times—a legacy still in the making.
