On March 13, 2013, the cardinals gathered in conclave to elect Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the See of Peter, making him the first ever Jesuit to be elected pope and the first pope from Latin America.
Emerging on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he greeted the crowd with a simple “Buonasera” (Good evening) and was introduced to the world as Pope Francis — a name taken in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his love for the poor.
A man of action, Pope Francis went on to introduce his vision for the Church in gestures as much as in words. Here is a look at some of the inspiring moments that marked his papacy.
Casa Santa Marta
After his election, Pope Francis insisted on returning to the Vatican guesthouse where cardinals stay during the conclave in order to collect his belongings and check out personally. Shortly thereafter, he opted to remain in a suite in the building, rather than move to the papal apartment which overlooks St. Peter’s Square.
Washing feet
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis chose to celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper among marginalized communities. He regularly held Masses for this solemn feast in prisons and care facilities, washing the feet of prisoners, migrants and the elderly.
Pop-culture papa
In 2013, Time magazine named Pope Francis “Person of the Year“; the same year, Esquire magazine named him the “Best Dressed Man of the Year.” Then, in February 2014, Pope Francis was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, an image that reflected the many ways the pope captured popular imagination.
In 2016, Pope Francis joined Instagram, gaining over a million followers in under 12 hours. Years before, posing with a group of teens in St. Augustine Church in Rome, he became the first pope to pose for a selfie.
A swig of tea
Pope Francis has delighted pilgrims and well-wishers by taking sips of yerba maté when offered. The herbal tea, a favorite of the pope’s, was first cultivated by the Guarani (Indigenous peoples inhabiting regions of Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia) and popularized by the Jesuits.
Unwavering opposition to abortion
Pope Francis has consistently expressed strong opposition to abortion, often using vivid analogies to convey his stance. In October 2018, during a general audience at the Vatican, he compared the act of obtaining an abortion to hiring a hitman, asking: “Is it right to take out a human life to solve a problem? … Is it right to hire a hitman to solve a problem?”
Volo papale
While Pope St. John Paul II was world-famous for his extensive travels, Pope Francis has an impressive record in his own right. During his pontificate, he made 47 apostolic journeys to 65 countries. He is the first pope to have visited Myanmar (2017), the United Arab Emirates (2019), North Macedonia (2019), Iraq (2021), Bahrain (2022), South Sudan (2023) and Mongolia (2023).
Mister Speaker, the pope of the Holy See!
On Sept. 24, 2015, Pope Francis became the first pope to address a joint session of the United States Congress. His historic speech called on lawmakers to work toward the common good, welcome immigrants, and protect and defend human life. During the same visit, Pope Francis canonized St. Junipero Serra, the first canonization held on U.S. soil. A decade later, in 2025, President Joe Biden awarded Pope Francis the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor bestowed by U.S. presidents.
Lunching with the homeless
In 2019, Pope Francis invited 1,500 homeless people to join him for lunch at the Vatican. The festive meal was part of the World Day of the Poor, a new initiative, now observed annually, that encourages Catholics to engage in charitable works, solidarity and outreach to the poor.
A solitary vigil
On March 27, 2020, amid the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis delivered an unforgettable “Urbi et Orbi” (To the City and the World) blessing from a rain-soaked, empty St. Peter’s Square. Commenting on the Gospel story of the calming of the storm, the pope boldly declared, “We are not self-sufficient; by ourselves we flounder: we need the Lord, like ancient navigators needed the stars.” The unprecedented moment of prayer was watched live by tens of millions around the world.
Join the Jesuits?
What is Pope Francis’ advice to young men thinking about becoming Jesuits? “Become a Dominican!” he joked with Father Pedro Chia, director of the Jesuit Communication Office of the Chinese Province, in an interview May 24, 2024. “I would tell him to allow somebody to accompany him and to enter in a discernment,” Pope Francis responded, offering genuine spiritual advice after his quip. “There is something in the Society of Jesus that we should never lose: the missionary spirit.”
