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| Jorge Mario Bergoglio | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jorge Mario Bergoglio |
| Birth date | 1936-12-17 |
| Birth place | Buenos Aires |
| Nationality | Argentina |
| Occupation | Roman Catholic cleric |
| Known for | Pope (from 2013), Cardinalate |
Jorge Mario Bergoglio is an Argentine Roman Catholic priest who became Pope in 2013, taking the name Francis. He previously served as Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II. His papacy has been marked by emphasis on pastoral outreach, reform of Vatican structures, and engagement with global issues such as climate change and migration.
Born in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrants from Piovene Rocchette and Portacomaro, he spent his childhood in the Barracas neighborhood and studied at the Colegio Nacional de Buenos Aires and later at the Facultad de Ingeniería (Universidad de Buenos Aires), where he worked as a chemical technician at Fábrica de Inyecciones Domingo before pursuing religious life. Influenced by figures linked to Italian immigration to Argentina and the Argentine Catholic community, he trained at local seminaries and participated in parish life within Buenos Aires Province.
He entered the Society of Jesus in 1958, undertaking novitiate formation in Santiago del Estero and studies in Buenos Aires and San Miguel. Ordained a priest in 1969, he taught chemistry briefly at Colegio del Salvador and studied theology at Jesuit institutions connected with Comunidad Jesuítica Argentina. He served as provincial superior of the Jesuit Province of Argentina and participated in Jesuit networks across Latin America, interacting with leaders associated with the Latin American Episcopal Conference and figures from the Liberation theology debates.
In 1992 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and later coadjutor archbishop and archbishop, succeeding in 1998. Created cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II, he served on dicasteries of the Roman Curia and participated in the 2013 papal conclave as a cardinal elector. His episcopal ministry involved collaboration with clergy linked to the Argentine Episcopal Conference and engagement with congregations such as the Congregation for the Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Elected Pope in March 2013 at the 2013 papal conclave, he became the first Jesuit pope and the first pope from Americas. His papacy has overseen reforms of the Roman Curia, including the establishment of the Secretariat for the Economy and the restructuring of financial institutions like the Institute for the Works of Religion. He has made apostolic journeys to countries including Brazil, United States, Cuba, Turkey, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, and South Korea, and convened synods on the Family and the Amazon. He has appointed cardinals from diverse regions including Africa, Asia, and Oceania and presided over the publication of major documents such as an apostolic exhortation and an encyclical addressing climate change and environmental stewardship.
He emphasizes pastoral theology grounded in the Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Luke, and the Second Vatican Council, drawing on sources like the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola and the tradition of Catholic social teaching. His teachings incorporate themes from Thomas Aquinas, Augustine of Hippo, and Pope Benedict XVI’s hermeneutics, while prioritizing mercy as articulated in the Divine Mercy devotion. Pastoral priorities include accompaniment modeled on Pope John XXIII and Pope Paul VI, preferential attention to the poor in continuity with documents of the Latin American Episcopal Conference and the Pontifical Council Cor Unum.
He has engaged with international actors such as the United Nations, the European Union, and regional bodies in Latin America, advocating policies on migration aligned with positions held by organizations like Caritas Internationalis and humanitarian agencies. On climate and environment he advanced positions similar to those in Paris Agreement dialogues and has criticized consumerism in the style of Pope Paul VI critiques of modernity. He has addressed economic inequality drawing on analyses resonant with International Monetary Fund debates and has intervened diplomatically in situations involving Venezuela, Cuba and Argentina.
His tenure has attracted criticism and debate from bishops, theologians, journalists, and political leaders linked to networks such as Opus Dei, conservative factions in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and progressive groups connected to base communities in Latin America. Controversies include discussions over his handling of clerical abuse cases involving dioceses like those in Argentina and concerns raised by survivors and advocacy groups associated with Survivors Network-style organizations. Critics have debated his theological rhetoric on amoris laetitia and pastoral accommodations, while others have questioned financial transparency despite reforms involving the Vatican Bank.