Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis became the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church on March 13, 2013—marking several historic firsts: the first pope from the Americas, the Southern Hemisphere, and the Jesuit order. He was known globally for his humility, concern for the poor, and progressive views on social and environmental issues.

He advocated for migrants and the marginalized, often symbolizing this commitment through powerful gestures—such as washing refugees’ feet on Holy Thursday and urging global solidarity to address inequality. He reached out to the world’s margins, becoming the first pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula and traveling to conflict zones like South Sudan, Myanmar, and the Central African Republic to promote peace and reconciliation.

In all he has done, Pope Francis has shown that leadership is as much about presence as policy. Cardinal Dolan of New York observed: “The way he lived and the way he died, he was a great teacher. He taught us at the end by letting us watch him die.”

Earlier today, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88.

My Favorite Quotations from Pope Francis:

“A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold.”

“The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect.”

“God never tires of forgiving us.”

“Money must serve, not rule.”

“Love is the measure of faith.”

“Each of us has a vision of good and of evil.”

“Let us care for creation.”

“Reality is greater than ideas.”

“A Church that doesn’t go out, keeps Jesus in.”

“To change the world, we must be good to those who cannot repay us.”