Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was the eldest of five children and grew up in a middle-class family. His parents were Italian immigrants, and his father worked as a railway worker.
Bergoglio was educated in Catholic schools and joined the Jesuit order in 1958. He was ordained a priest in 1969 and went on to study theology in Germany. In 1973, he became the provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina, a position he held until 1979.
During Argentina's "Dirty War" in the 1970s and 1980s, Bergoglio was accused of not doing enough to protect members of the Jesuit order from the military dictatorship. Some Jesuits were kidnapped and tortured, and Bergoglio was criticized for not doing more to help them. He has denied any wrongdoing and has said that he worked behind the scenes to help his fellow Jesuits.
Bergoglio was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992 and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. He was made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
As archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio was known for his humility and his work with the poor. He lived in a small apartment, cooked his own meals, and took public transportation to work. He was also a strong advocate for social justice and spoke out against economic inequality.
In 2013, Imbroglio was elected pope, becoming the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope. He took the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, who was known for his love of nature and his dedication to the poor.
As pope, Francis has been known for his progressive views on social issues, including climate change, immigration, and income inequality. He has also been a strong advocate for interfaith dialogue and has reached out to other religious leaders, including Muslims and Jews.
Francis has also been a strong advocate for reform within the Catholic Church. He has called for greater transparency and accountability, particularly in cases of sexual abuse by priests. He has also worked to decentralize the Church, giving more power to local bishops and reducing the role of the Vatican bureaucracy.
Overall, Pope Francis has been a powerful voice for social justice and reform within the Catholic Church. His humble and compassionate approach has won him many admirers around the world, and he continues to be a leading figure in the global fight for social and environmental justice.
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