A view of the sea

Who Was Pope Francis? A Life of Service and Simplicity

Pope Francis died on April 21, the day after Easter, at the age of 88

In a touching moment, U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Pope Francis on April 20, hours before his passing

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was the first Pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the position

Pope Francis was elected on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI a rare move in papal history

He chose the name "Francis" after St. Francis of Assisi, reflecting his focus on simplicity, service to the poor, and environmental care

Pope Francis championed dialogue between faiths, spoke out against war, and worked to modernize the Church's stance on LGBTQ+ and divorced members

He released Laudato si’, a landmark encyclical on climate change and environmental justice, urging global action to protect the Earth

He shunned papal luxuries, lived in a guesthouse, and often mingled with everyday people setting a new tone of accessibility in the Vatican

Pope Francis wrote extensively on faith, mercy, and social justice, leaving behind a legacy of thought-provoking teachings

Despite leading the Catholic Church, Pope Francis embraced a humble lifestyle, with his net worth estimated between $2.5 million and $16 million

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