Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, served as the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death on 21 April 2025. As the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope born outside Europe since the 8th century, his papacy marked a historic shift in the Catholic Church's leadership. Raised in a family of Italian origin, Bergoglio was inspired to join the Jesuits in 1958 after recovering from a severe illness, and he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. He served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina from 1973 to 1979, later becoming the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. In 2001, he was created a cardinal by Pope John Paul II, and following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the 2013 papal conclave elected him as pope on 13 March. He chose the name Francis in honor of Francis of Assisi, signaling a papacy defined by humility and a focus on the marginalized.

Throughout his tenure, Pope Francis was renowned for his emphasis on God's mercy, his commitment to interreligious dialogue, and his unwavering concern for the poor, migrants, and refugees. He broke with tradition by residing in the Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse rather than the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace, and he favored simpler vestments, refusing the traditional papal mozzetta and choosing a silver piscatory ring over gold. His papacy was marked by significant institutional reforms, including making women and laymen full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia and convening the Synod on Synodality, which was widely described as the culmination of his papacy and the most important event in the Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council. He also advocated for greater inclusivity toward LGBTQ people, permitting non-liturgical blessings of individuals in same-sex relationships in the Latin Church.

On the global stage, Francis was a vocal critic of trickle-down economics, consumerism, and overdevelopment, making action on climate change a leading focus of his papacy. He deemed capital punishment inadmissible in all cases and committed the Church to its worldwide abolition. He criticized right-wing populism and anti-immigration politics, calling the protection of migrants a "duty of civilization," and he called for the decriminalization of homosexuality. His diplomatic efforts included helping restore relations between Cuba and the United States, negotiating a deal with China regarding the appointment of bishops, and encouraging peace between Israel and Palestinians, including signing the Vatican's first treaty with Palestine and condemning Israel's military operations in Gaza while calling for investigations of war crimes. In 2022, he apologized for the Church's role in the Canadian Indian residential school system. Following a period of declining health, Francis made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday before dying on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025. The 2025 conclave elected Leo XIV as his successor on 8 May, making him the second pope from the Americas after Francis.