Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, the son of Italian immigrants. His father, Mario, was an accountant and his mother, Regina Sivori, a homemaker. He was one of five children.

At age 21, he became severely ill with pneumonia and had part of his right lung surgically removed. He attended technical school, graduating as a chemical engineer. He also worked briefly as a bouncer and a custodian, according to TIME magazine, which featured him as Person of the Year in 2013.

Jorge worked as a chemist before answering the call to priesthood. He entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) on March 11, 1958. There, he studied the humanities and earned degrees in philosophy and theology. 

Jorge was ordained a priest on Dec. 13, 1969, making his final profession with the Jesuits on April 22, 1973. On July 31, 1973, he was appointed provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held for six years. After that, he served as a parish priest and rector of the Colegio de San Jose in San Miguel.

In 1992, Father Jorge was appointed bishop of Auca and auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires by Pope John Paul II. He was named coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1997. 

Pope John Paul II named him a cardinal in February 2001. He was known for his humility, doctrinal conservatism and commitment to social justice. 

Pope Benedict XVI resigned because of health reasons in February 2013, and a conclave was convened in early March. Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected pope on the fifth ballot and chose the name Francis.  

 

Dec. 17, 1936:  Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrants

March 11, 1958:  Entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus

Dec. 13, 1969:  Ordained a priest

July 31, 1973:  Appointed provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held for six years

May 20, 1992: Appointed titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary of Buenos Aires by Pope John Paul II

June 3, 1997: Named coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires

Feb. 28, 1998: Named archbishop, primate of Argentina and ordinary for Eastern-rite faithful of Argentina

Feb. 21, 2001: Named a cardinal by Pope John Paul II

April 2005: Participated in conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI

March 13, 2013: Elected supreme pontiff at the age of 76

 

Did you know? 

A few facts about Pope Francis: 

• He was the first major leader of a world religion to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone. He was also TIME magazine’s Person of the Year in 2013.
• He was a huge soccer fan and a passionate supporter of the Argentinian San Lorenzo club.
• He wrote a New York Times bestseller titled Dear Pope Francis: The Pope Answers Letters from Children 
  (Loyola Press, 2017).
• He had only one functioning lung at the time of his election to the papacy.
• He spoke and understood multiple languages: Spanish, Latin, Italian, German, French, Portuguese and English.
• He was the only pope to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
• He loved the works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
• After becoming pope, he missed the opportunity to walk through the city to a favorite pizzeria to enjoy a slice, saying delivery “just wasn’t the same.”
• He auctioned his Harley Davidson to benefit the homeless.