Pope Francis’ Calling Came as a Boy in Argentina, and It Led Him to the Vatican

Francis was a deeply religious child in Buenos Aires. The first pontiff from Latin America tried to create a more welcoming church.

Pope Francis became head of the Catholic church in 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down.

Pope Francis’ life took him from a modest upbringing in Buenos Aires to lead the Roman Catholic Church as the first Jesuit pontiff and the first from Latin America.

Across his 12 years as pope, Francis consistently elevated the causes of migrants and the disenfranchised, and pushed the church to more forcefully confront its own history of scandal. His efforts to make the church more inclusive were welcomed by his supporters and many Catholics, but some conservatives pushed back as he veered from traditional teachings.

1936

A Deeply Religious Boy

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires. His parents were immigrants from Italy, and he was the eldest of five siblings. As a boy, he was intelligent, deeply religious and loved to dance the tango.

A young boy smiles in a black and white photograph.

A young Jorge Mario Bergoglio in an undated photograph.

1952

Religious Calling

When he was 16, Jorge was rushing to meet friends but paused at the Basilica of St. Joseph in Buenos Aires, feeling an urge to go inside. In the sanctuary, it felt as though “someone grabbed me from inside,” he said, adding, “Right there I knew I had to be a priest.” He later joined a seminary.

1969

Ordination

After 13 years of study, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was ordained as a priest.

A black and white photograph of seven people of varying ages, some seated on an armchair and some standing behind. — Jorge Mario Bergoglio, standing second from left, with his family.Credit...

1973

A Jesuit Leader

Father Bergoglio became the head of the Jesuits, an order of priests, in Argentina. At the time, the country was in the throes of a “dirty war,” when the ruling military junta tortured, killed or “disappeared” as many as 30,000 people. Father Bergoglio later faced accusations that he had done little to protect two priests with antigovernment views who were kidnapped and tortured by the regime. He has denied the claims, saying he protected priests and others by pressing military officials behind the scenes.

1979

Exile

Father Bergoglio’s tenure as head of the Jesuits ended in controversy, with critics accusing him of having an autocratic management style. Church authorities sent him into de facto exile in Frankfurt, Germany, and then to Córdoba, Argentina.

1992

A Surprise Turn to Bishop

Father Bergoglio’s exile was interrupted when he was unexpectedly named an auxiliary bishop of the Buenos Aires diocese. He became archbishop six years later, and focused on outreach to the poor. He was elevated to cardinal in 2001.