A holy life: The most memorable moments from Pope Francis’ life
Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic church, has died at the age of 88. Born in 1936, he was elected as pontiff on March 13, 2013, making him the first Latin American pope in history. Here’s his journey, in photos
)
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (left), and his brother Oscar, posing for a photo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The boy on the left went on to become Pope Francis. AP
Argentine seminarian Jorge Mario Bergoglio smiles for a portrait at the El Salvador school where he taught literature and psychology, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. File image/AP
Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, who chose the name of Pope Francis, waves to the crowd from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, at the Vatican on March 13, 2013. Benedict XVI had announced his retirement a month earlier, citing his "advanced age." AP
Pope Francis prays at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City on May 26, 2014. The Pope had gone on a three-day trip to the Holy Land, and he was accompanied by Jewish and Muslim leaders from his home country of Argentina. AFP
Pope Francis prays face down, on the floor of St Peter's Basilica during the Celebration of Lord's Passion on Good Friday on April 3, 2015 in Vatican. AFP
Pope Francis addresses a joint session of Congress on September 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. He became the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to address a joint meeting of Congress, including more than 500 lawmakers, Supreme Court justices and top administration officials including Vice President Joe Biden. AFP
Pope Francis passes the main entrance with the lettering "Arbeit Macht Frei" (Work Sets You Free) at the former Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp on July 29, 2016 in Oswiecim as part of his visit to the World Youth Days (WYD). The Pope was there to pay tribute to those who died in the Holocaust. AFP
Pope Francis was loved by many and popular among the masses. Seen here, kissing a baby as he arrives for his weekly general audience, in St Peter's Square, at the Vatican. AP
Pope Francis speaks during a video conference connection with the International Space Station (ISS), at the Vatican in October, 2017 . Pope Francis chatted with six astronauts at the International Space Station (ISS), kicking off the rare interview with a philosophical question on "man's place in the universe". AFP
Pope Francis touches the coffin of former Pope Benedict XVI in January 2023. Benedict's funeral was attended by tens of thousands at St. Peter's Square. AFP
Pope Francis takes part in a working session on artificial intelligence during the G7 summit near Bari, Italy, in June 2024. Francis was determined to use the soft power of his office to try to ensure that the development of AI serves humanity and does not turn into a 21st-century Frankenstein's monster. AFP
Pope Francis receives US Vice President JD Vance, before bestowing the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for to the city and to the world) blessing at the end of the Easter mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Comastri in St Peter's Square at the Vatican. AP