Pope Francis is dead

Pope Francis (real name: Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the first pope from South America and also the first Jesuit to sit on the See of Peter. Before his election as Pope, he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was regarded as a modest churchman who placed great value on social justice.

On 13 March 2013, he was elected the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, succeeding Benedict XVI, who had resigned unexpectedly. Since then, he has borne the name Francis, in honour of Francis of Assisi - as a sign of his commitment to poverty, peace and environmental protection.

Provincial Márton Gál: Francis was a bridge builder

‘Francis was a formative figure in today's Catholic Church, a bridge builder - both within the Church and beyond,’ said Salvatorian Provincial Fr Márton Gál, paying tribute to the deceased head of the Church. ‘Through his tireless commitment to refugees, the needy and people of other faiths, he was also highly recognised outside of church circles.’

Sr Christine Rod: Francis was an unusual person
‘Pope Francis was an unusual and restless person,’ says Sr Christine Rod, Secretary General of the Austrian Conference of Religious Orders, in touching words on the death of the pontiff. ‘So restless that he made us realise what is necessary in today's Church. And through him we have learnt what is or could be possible.

Twelve years at the head of the Church
During his time in office, Pope Francis initiated a comprehensive reform of the Roman Curia and promoted a more flexible application of Catholic sexual morality. He was known for his simple lifestyle, his popular manner and his progressive approach to issues such as climate change, migration and interreligious dialogue. At the same time, he was also criticised because reforms within the church were progressing more slowly than many had hoped. The reform project of a new church constitution, which was intended to give the laity more rights of co-determination, remains unfinished due to Francis' death. His time in office was overshadowed by an intensified polarisation between reformers and conservatives in the Church. However, with sermons on human weaknesses and a focus on the environment and solidarity across religious boundaries, Francis attempted to redirect the church's focus to new priorities. ‘Much of what he has initiated during his years as Pope has become a blessing,’ says Sr Christine Rod.