30 Astonishing facts about late Pope Francis you never knew

1. First Jesuit Pope – Pope Francis was the first pope from the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuit Order.

2. First from the Americas – He was the first pope ever elected from the Americas, hailing from Argentina.

3. First from the Southern Hemisphere – He was the first pope born in the Southern Hemisphere.

4. First non-European Pope in over 1,200 years – Before him, the last pope from outside Europe was Gregory III, a Syrian, in the 8th century.

5. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio – He was born on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

6. Lung surgery at 21 – At 21, he survived a life-threatening illness and had part of one lung removed.

7. Former bouncer and janitor – Before becoming a priest, he worked as a bouncer and janitor to support himself.

8. Chemical technician – He graduated as a chemical technician and worked in a food lab.

9. Entered seminary after confession – He was inspired to join the priesthood after a life-changing confession on Spring Day.

10. Ordained in 1969 – He became a Catholic priest in December 1969.

11. Jesuit Provincial Superior – From 1973 to 1979, he served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina.

12. Lived through dictatorship – He led the Jesuits during Argentina’s military dictatorship, a period that shaped his strong views on justice.

13. Archbishop of Buenos Aires – He was appointed Archbishop in 1998 and served until his election as pope.

14. Made cardinal by Pope John Paul II – He was elevated to cardinal in 2001.

15. Took the name Francis – He chose the name Francis in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi, symbolising humility and concern for the poor.

16. Lived in guest house, not palace – Unlike his predecessors, he chose to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guest house rather than the Apostolic Palace.

17. Promoted women’s roles in the Vatican – He appointed women as full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia.

18. Advocated for LGBTQ dignity – Though he upheld Church doctrine, he pushed for pastoral inclusion and stated LGBTQ people could be blessed outside liturgical contexts.

19. Critic of capitalism – He frequently denounced unbridled capitalism, consumerism, and economic inequality.

20. Climate action advocate – He made fighting climate change a major theme of his papacy, notably in his encyclical Laudato si’.

21. Opposed the death penalty – He called the death penalty “intrinsically evil” and advocated for its global abolition.

22. Condemned right-wing populism – He publicly criticised nationalist and anti-immigration politics, including those of former U.S. President Donald Trump.

23. Brokered US-Cuba thaw – He helped mediate the restoration of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

24. Struck a deal with China – He reached an agreement with China on the appointment of bishops, a controversial but historic move.

25. Defender of migrants – He referred to the protection of migrants as a “duty of civilisation.”

26. Apologised to Indigenous Canadians – In 2022, he issued a heartfelt apology for the Church’s role in the cultural genocide of Canada’s Indigenous peoples.

27. Led the Synod on Synodality – This global Church consultation was described as the most significant event since Vatican II.

28. Had a niece who is an artist – His niece, Cristina Bergoglio, is a professional painter based in Madrid.

29. Spoke multiple languages – Besides Spanish, he spoke Italian, German, and some English.

30. Died on Easter Monday, 2025 – He passed away at age 88 after battling chronic lung disease, making his last appearance on Easter Sunday.