How has Pope Francis guided the Roman Catholic Church?
How has Pope Francis guided the Roman Catholic Church?
Learn about the worldwide impact of Pope Francis.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Transcript
U.S. SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS: The Pope has played an extraordinary role in speaking out on issues of immense consequence that impact every man, woman and child not just in our country but on the planet.
NARRATOR: In his first official speech, Pope Francis joked that he had been recruited from “the ends of the earth.”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, is the first pope from South America. In 2023 he celebrated his tenth year as pontiff. He was the first non-European pope in more than a millennium. He was also the first to travel in a Ford Focus.
In his youth Bergoglio studied chemistry. He worked as a bouncer and a janitor. He was drawn to the church, and he entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958. He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and led the Jesuits in Argentina from 1973 until 1979.
Bergoglio finished his doctoral thesis abroad. When he returned to Argentina, he became an auxiliary bishop and soon the archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was made a cardinal in 2001. Bergoglio’s humble, frugal behavior earned him respect. He lived simply, in an apartment. He traveled by bus.
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned, and Bergoglio was elected. He picked the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis helmed the church through controversies, including clergy sex-abuse scandals. His efforts to introduce transparency into the church’s dealings earned praise, though critics alleged that reforms fell short.
He traveled widely, visiting about 60 countries. He modeled openness by washing the feet of a Muslim woman during the Maundy Thursday reenactment of Jesus’ washing the feet of the Apostles—the first time a woman and a non-Christian was included in the ceremony by a pope. He also championed protection of the environment, the rights of Indigenous people, and the plight of refugees.
POPE FRANCIS: Millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future with freedom.
We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners because most of us...because most of us were once foreigners.
NARRATOR: In his first official speech, Pope Francis joked that he had been recruited from “the ends of the earth.”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, is the first pope from South America. In 2023 he celebrated his tenth year as pontiff. He was the first non-European pope in more than a millennium. He was also the first to travel in a Ford Focus.
In his youth Bergoglio studied chemistry. He worked as a bouncer and a janitor. He was drawn to the church, and he entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1958. He was ordained as a priest in 1969 and led the Jesuits in Argentina from 1973 until 1979.
Bergoglio finished his doctoral thesis abroad. When he returned to Argentina, he became an auxiliary bishop and soon the archbishop of Buenos Aires. He was made a cardinal in 2001. Bergoglio’s humble, frugal behavior earned him respect. He lived simply, in an apartment. He traveled by bus.
In 2013 Pope Benedict XVI resigned, and Bergoglio was elected. He picked the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.
Pope Francis helmed the church through controversies, including clergy sex-abuse scandals. His efforts to introduce transparency into the church’s dealings earned praise, though critics alleged that reforms fell short.
He traveled widely, visiting about 60 countries. He modeled openness by washing the feet of a Muslim woman during the Maundy Thursday reenactment of Jesus’ washing the feet of the Apostles—the first time a woman and a non-Christian was included in the ceremony by a pope. He also championed protection of the environment, the rights of Indigenous people, and the plight of refugees.
POPE FRANCIS: Millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future with freedom.
We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners because most of us...because most of us were once foreigners.