Pope Francis: A Life in Pictures

Known for his humble demeanor and his policies of reform, Pope Francis ushered in a new era of leadership of the Roman Catholic Church when he was elected to the papacy in March 2013. Francis was the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first from South America (Argentina), and the first from the Jesuit order. From his first public appearance as pope—during which he wore a simple white cassock and greeted the well-wishers who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City with the words “Buona sera” (“Good evening”)—Francis inspired and fascinated Catholics around the world. He died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. In our feature, follow Francis’s life story from his childhood in Buenos Aires to the culmination of his religious career as the bishop of Rome.