Pope Francis: 1936 - 2025

Pope Francis, a leader who reshaped the face of the Catholic Church in the modern era, has died at the age of 88.

After first being admitted to hospital on 14th February due to a respiratory crisis,  Pope Francis passed away on Monday, 22nd April  from a cerebral stroke that led to irreversible heart failure. Less that 24 hours earlier he had blessed thousands of Catholics in St Peter's Square as part of the Easter Sunday celebrations.

From the day Pope Francis was elected in March 2013, he rejected the luxury of the Vatican and challenged long-held traditions. At Sky HISTORY, we’re honouring Pope Francis and his papacy with a closer look at his life, achievements and what’s next.

Early life

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires Argentina, Pope Francis came from humble roots, growing up in the working-class barrio (the Spanish word for neighbourhood) of Flores. His father was an Italian immigrant and worked as an accountant for the railways. His mother was a loving wife and dedicated to raising Jorge Mario and his four siblings.

Like many young Argentinian men, Jorge Mario worked a variety of odd jobs before finding his true calling. Janitor, lab technician, even nightclub bouncer.

A different kind of leader

Bergoglio joined the Jesuits, an all-male religious order, in 1958. Just over 10 years later he became a priest. It was an interesting time for a promotion. Argentina in 1969 was under the dictatorship of General Juan Carlos Ongania, who ruled the country with an iron grip. Anyone seen as a dissenter risked disappearing, which meant that as a rising Church leader, Bergoglio walked a fine line.

He protected some priests from government persecution but avoided openly criticising or confronting the regime. This received mixed reviews but ultimately won him a lot of support. Bergoglio was named the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.

Instead of moving into the palace he was entitled to, he settled into a small apartment. It wasn’t just his living quarters where he chose to challenge the norm. Instead of being chauffeured, he took the bus. Instead of hosting banquets, he cooked his own meals. People called him a ‘man of the poor’ and loved him for it.

A rise to the Vatican

When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, the Vatican needed a new leader. The conclave gathered and a surprise choice emerged—Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was elected on 13th March 2013, and became the first Latin American pope in history.

A Papacy unlike any other

Pope Francis set the tone immediately.

For starters, his name. He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, calling him 'the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation'.

He kept his old black leather shoes and like his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, chose to live in a simple apartment instead of the luxurious papal apartments offered by the Vatican.

Pope Francis often did away with rehearsed speeches, instead speaking off the cuff and from the heart.

The big shifts he made (and tried to make)

Francis didn’t reinvent the Catholic Church, but he did push boundaries and force the institution to address some of its most pressing issues. Here’s a closer look at some of his biggest accomplishments:

• A more open church

He softened the Church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues and famously asked, 'Who am I to judge?' when questioned about gay priests.

• Fighting inequality

Pope Francis lived up to his name. He wasn’t shy about calling out greed and urging the wealthy to do more for the poor.

• Tackling abuse

Francis didn’t attempt to gloss over the Church’s sexual abuse crisis. During his time as pope he fired bishops, set up tribunals and hosted a global Vatican summit (officially called the Meeting on the Protection of Minors in the Church) on abuse in 2019.

• Climate and global issues

His 2015 encyclical (that’s a papal letter sent to Roman Catholic Church bishops) Laudato Si’ addressed climate change and urged world leaders to take responsibility.

• Global peace-making

Pope Francis played a key role in restoring relations between the USA and Cuba. He was also the first pope to visit Iraq.

Final years and lasting words

Pope Francis published his memoir, Life: My Story Through History in 2024. Unlike some other papal writings, this one felt personal. He reflected on his struggles, admitted his mistakes and unpacked the resistance he faced inside the Vatican.

His ultimate message? He believed in a Catholic Church that empowered everyday people, not just leaders. His book made it clear: he wasn’t here to protect tradition for tradition’s sake.

What happens now Pope Francis has passed away?

The death of a Pope sets off an election process that dates back to the 13th century.

First, the Camerlengo (the Vatican official in charge during the transition) leads the proceedings. This includes tapping the Pope’s forehead with a silver hammer to confirm death. It’s more of a ceremonial gesture these days but continues, nonetheless.

Pope Francis’ body will then lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. The public is invited to pay respects, with many travelling from across the globe to do so. The funeral will follow, no doubt with a guest list of high-profile world leaders and religious figures.

Then comes the big question: Who will be the next pope?

How is the next pope chosen?

The College of Cardinals gathers at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. The meeting is called the papal conclave and sees each member vote in secret using handwritten ballots.

They vote in rounds and a two-thirds majority is needed to confirm the new Pope. This is where things get interesting. Ballots are burned after each round and if a new pope hasn’t been chosen, chemicals are mixed with the ballots to create black smoke.

If a decision has been made, the ballots are treated with different chemicals to create white smoke. This is the centuries-old signal that a new pope has been chosen.

Until then, the Vatican enters Sede Vacante (a Latin phrase meaning the 'empty seat' period). No major decisions happen until the new pope is in place.