Research by
Emmanuel Gandu
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Argentina, Pope Francis is twelve years as head of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of the Vatican City State. He is the first Pope to come from outside Europe since the 8th century Syrian Pope Gregory III.
Francis was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II on 21/2/2001.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedic XVI on 28 February 2013, a papal conclave elected Cardinal Bergoglio as Benedict XVI successor on 13/3/2013 at the 5th ballot on the second day of voting, and he took Francis as his papal name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Throughout his public life, Francis has been noted for his humility, emphasis on God’s mercy, international visibility as Pope, concern for the poor and vulnerable in all corners of the world, commitment to interreligious dialogue, and bringing peace to conflict zones of the world.
Pope Francis is known for having a less formal approach to the papacy than his predecessors by, for instance, choosing to reside in a guest house inside the vatican rather than the Papal apartartments of the Apostolic Palace used by previous popes.
SICNESS AND HOSPITALISATION
Pope Francis was increasingly becoming frail, and this necessitated his hospitalisation.
He was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, following a bout of bronchitis, with his Doctors later diagnosing bilateral Pnewmonia.
You may wish to remember that Francis has had to struggle with his health in the past.
When he was 21 years old, after life threatening Pnewmonia and three cysts, Jorge Mario Bergoglio had one of his lungs removed, meaning that he had been with one lung since from the age of 21 to today.
Pope Francis is still in hospital and responding to treatment.
May God grant the people’s Pope a quick recovery.
Amen.
