Pope Francis

Pope Francis, successor of Pope Benedict XVI; In addition to his native Spanish, he spoke fluent Italian (the official language of Vatican City and the "everyday language" of the Holy See) and German.

Pope Francis (Latin: Franciscus; b. 17 December 1936; d. 21 April 2025), born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was a Jesuit Pope from 13 March 2013 to 21 April 2025. The status as pope is disputed by some traditional Catholics such as sedevacantists. He was widely criticised for his woke policies, including support for Jewish interests, support for mass immigration to white countries, and support of transsexualism within the church.

Life

Francis, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory III, who reigned in the 8th century. He has been argued to support some aspects of liberation theology, influential in Latin America and among Jesuits.

The ADL has stated that "ADL Congratulates New Pope Francis [...] There is much in his record that reassures us about the future [...] Under his leadership in Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergogolio made important strides in maintaining positive Catholic-Jewish relations [...] Cardinal Bergoglio maintained a close relationship with the Jewish community in Argentina [...] In 2010, he together with Argentinian Rabbi Abraham Skorka, published the book “On Heaven and Earth” addressing issues of interfaith dialogue. The new Pope’s sensitivity to the Jews emerges from this work in his comments on the Church’s approach to the Jewish people since Vatican II, the Holocaust and the Arab-Israeli conflict."

During his first official trip outside Rome since his election, in highly symbolic and "dramatic pro-immigrant outing," Francis went to Lampedusa, an Italian island in the southern Mediterranean and a primary European entry point for African and often Muslim immigrants. Francis there, and elsewhere, has issued many pro-immigration statements. The immigration issue has been stated to be an important, and personal, one for Francis, whose father emigrated from Italy to Argentina due to Italian fascism. "As archbishop of Buenos Aires," Sky News noted, "he denounced the exploitation of migrants as 'slavery' and said those who did nothing to help them were complicit by their silence."

A 2017 article stated that "a powerful force is rallying to the side of migrants: the Roman Catholic Church led by Pope Francis. Catholic cardinals, bishops and priests are emerging as some of the most influential opponents of immigration crackdowns backed by right-wing populists in the United States and Europe. The moves come as Francis, who has put migrants at the top of his agenda, appears to be leading by example, emphasizing his support for their rights in sermons, speeches and deeds. The pro-migrant drive risks dividing Catholics — many of whom in the United States voted for Trump." He has also been criticized by some prominent clerics for "more open stance on divorced Catholics and gays and lesbians".

There have also been many other criticisms from conservative Catholics.

Orders

• Ordination 13 December 1969 by Ramón José Castellano
• Consecration 27 June 1992 by Antonio Quarracino
• Created cardinal 21 February 2001 by John Paul II
• 13 March 2013 Elected pope on the second day of the 2013 papal conclave, after which he took the papal name Francis
• 19 March 2013 Papal inauguration in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City

Successor

The black cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana, Africa, is predicted by some to be the successor to Francis. Other possible successors, the "Papabili", are: Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, 77, (Germany), Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, 69, (Italy), Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, (Italy), Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, (Italy), Cardinal Peter Erdö, 72, (Hungary), Cardinal Willem Eijk, 71, (Netherlands), Cardinal Anders Arborelius, 75, (Sweden), Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, 66, (France/Algeria), Cardinal Robert Sarah, 79, (Guinea), Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, (Philippines), Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, 77, (Sri Lanka), and Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, 76, (Myanmar).

Proceedings are expected to begin two to three weeks after the pope’s funeral, when the College of Cardinals will gather in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to launch the highly secretive process of electing a new pope. In theory, any baptized male Roman Catholic is eligible for the papacy, but for the past 700 years, the pope has always been chosen from among the cardinals.

External links

• Who is Pope Francis Really?