Pope Francis

Pope Francis

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires. After earning a secondary school degree as a chemical technician, Bergoglio felt a call to the priesthood as a Jesuit, joining the novitiate in 1958, at the age of 22.

He was ordained a priest on Dec. 13, 1969. In 1973 he made his perpetual vows in the Society of Jesus and the same year was elected Jesuit provincial for Argentina. He would go on to serve as a seminary rector, a pastor, a professor, and a spiritual director.

In 1992 Fr. Bergoglio was consecrated an auxiliary bishop of the Buenos Aires archdiocese. He became the archdiocese’s coadjutor archbishop in 1997, and succeeded as archbishop the following year. St. John Paul II named Archbishop Bergoglio a cardinal in 2001.

As president of the Argentine bishops’ conference from 2005 to 2011, Bergoglio attended the Fifth Latin American Episcopal Conference held in Aparecida, Brazil in May 2007.

He was in charge of the drafting of the meeting’s final document, which came to be known as the Aparecida document, recognized as an important guiding document for the Church in Latin America and beyond.

On March 13, 2013, Bergoglio was elected to the papacy, at the age of 76. He was the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to become pope.

Articles by Pope Francis

Full text: Pope Francis’ homily for Christmas 2023

Dec 24, 2023 / 18:00 pm

“A census of the whole earth” (cf. Lk 2:1). This was the context in which Jesus was born, and the Gospel makes a point of it.

Full Text: Pope Francis’ letter expressing concern about German Synodal Way

Nov 21, 2023 / 08:25 am

Here is CNA’s English translation of Pope Francis’ letter to four German Catholic laywomen expressing his “concerns” about the direction of the German Church.

FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ letter to new doctrine chief Archbishop Fernández

Jul 1, 2023 / 13:22 pm

The letter issued July 1 outlines the pope’s vision for the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

TEXT: ‘Don’t be couch potatoes!’ Pope Francis urges youth

Apr 29, 2023 / 10:16 am

“Life is real, not virtual. It does not take place on a screen, but in the world!” Pope Francis said in a meeting with young people in Budapest.

Full text of Pope Francis’ urbi et orbi blessing for Easter 2023

Apr 9, 2023 / 04:45 am

The urbi et orbi is a special apostolic blessing given by the pope every year on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.

Full Text: Pope Francis’ homily for Easter Vigil 2023 at the Vatican

Apr 8, 2023 / 15:00 pm

"The night is drawing to a close and the first light of dawn is appearing upon the horizon as the women set out toward Jesus’ tomb ...

Full text of Pope Francis’ homily for Palm Sunday 2023

Apr 2, 2023 / 04:25 am

Pope Francis presided over Mass for Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square on the morning of April 2.

FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Jan 6, 2023 / 05:45 am

Here is is the full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.

FULL TEXT: Pope Francis’ homily at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass

Jan 5, 2023 / 03:46 am

“Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!”

Full text: Pope Francis’ Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing 2022

Dec 25, 2022 / 07:00 am

The following is the full text of the pope’s Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” address delivered from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Full text: Pope Francis’ homily for Christmas 2022

Dec 24, 2022 / 13:00 pm

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Full text: Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Canada

Jul 30, 2022 / 04:53 am

Pope Francis returned to Rome on Saturday after a week-long trip to Canada. During the July 24 to 30 trip, the pope visited Edmonton, Québec, and Iqaluit on what he called a “penitential pilgrimage” to apologize to the country’s indigenous communities.

Full text: Pope Francis’ message to families at the World Meeting of Families 2022

Jun 25, 2022 / 13:00 pm

Pope Francis read a "Missionary Sending of Families" after Mass in St. Peter's Square.

Pentecost 2022: Full text of Pope Francis’ homily

Jun 5, 2022 / 05:30 am

The full text of Pope Francis' homily for Pentecost 2022

Full text of Pope Francis’ homily for the canonization Mass of 10 saints

May 15, 2022 / 05:40 am

"This is our strength: we are loved by God," Pope Francis said.

Full text of Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi blessing 2022

Apr 17, 2022 / 04:45 am

The full text of Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi benediction for Easter 2022

Easter Vigil 2022: Full text of Pope Francis’ homily

Apr 16, 2022 / 15:00 pm

Here is the full text of Pope Francis' homily for Easter Vigil 2022.

Palm Sunday 2022: Full text of Pope Francis’ homily

Apr 10, 2022 / 03:30 am

The full text of Pope Francis' homily for Palm Sunday 2022

Full text: Pope Francis’ in-flight press conference from Malta

Apr 3, 2022 / 15:20 pm

The pope spoke at the end of his two-day visit to the Mediterranean country.

Full text: Pope Francis’ Christmas Urbi et Orbi blessing 2021

Dec 25, 2021 / 04:50 am

The pope prayed for peace in conflict zones around the world.