Many firsts of Pope Francis

Pope Francis, the first Latin American Pope, passed away at 88, leaving a legacy of humility and social justice.

Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on April 21, 2025, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. He was 88 years old.

Here’s are glimpses from the life and papacy of Pope Francis:

In the 2013 Conclave, Cardinal Bergoglio was elected pope on the fifth ballot and took the name of Francis. He was chosen in one of the fastest Conclaves in years, remarkable given there was no clear front-runner going into the vote and that the church had been in turmoil following Pope Benedict XVI’s surprise resignation.

In a first of its kind after 600 years, Pope Benedict XVI resigned and gave up his ministry on February 28, 2013. This paved way for Pope Francis to be elected as his successor.

Pope Francis was 76 when he was chosen the 266th successor to the See of St. Peter. His papacy was significant for several reasons. He was the first pope from outside Europe in more than a thousand years. Further, he was the first Jesuit ever to become Pope in the Order’s near 500-year history.

Also, as Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he did not stay in the bishop’s palace but in an apartment. He preferred using public transport to a chauffeured limousine and cooking his own meals.

In his first speech, he began with a disarmingly informal “good evening,” and ended with a friendly “goodnight, sleep well”! He referred to himself as the “bishop of Rome” and invited them to begin together “this journey, the Bishop and people, this journey of the Church of Rome, which presided in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust.” He said, “Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood.” Before he gave his blessing, he asked the people “for a favour first” to pray for “their bishop … in silence”. And finally he assured them that he would “pray to the Madonna to protect Rome.”