In Photos: The remarkable life of Pope Francis
Pope Francis (C) celebrates mass and the imposition of the Pallium upon the new metropolitan archbishops during the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29, 2013 the Vatican's Saint Peter basilica.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church, has died at the age of 88.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he was elected pope on March 13, 2013, surprising many Church watchers who had seen the Argentine cleric, known for his concern for the poor, as an outsider.
Here's a look at the life and times of Pope Francis in photos.
Former Presidents Daniel Arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki with His Holiness Pope Francis at State House, Nairobi
Pope Francis waves as he arrives at the Kangemi slums on the outskirts of Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 27, 2015.
Pope Francis arrives in his pope mobile at the University of Nairobi grounds on November 26, 2015 to lead a mass.
Pope Francis meets with members of the foundation of "Gaudium et Spes" at the Vatican, February 14, 2025.
A faithful holds a rosary during a prayer service in St. Peter's Square, as Pope Francis continues his hospitalization, at the Vatican, March 3, 2025.
A man pulls a cart past a billboard announcing the visit of Pope Francis in Nairobi on November 23, 2015. Pope Francis heads to Africa this week for the riskiest trip of his papacy, defying danger with an open-topped popemobile and visits to a slum, refugee camp and mosque despite security fears following jihadist attacks.
Pope Francis is entertained by Maasai traditional dancers after he arrived at the Jommo Kenyatta International airport on November 25, 2015 in Nairobi . Pope Francis heads to Africa this week for the riskiest trip of his papacy, defying danger with an open-topped popemobile and visits to a slum, refugee camp and mosque despite security fears following jihadist attacks.
Kenyans wait to see the convoy transporting Pope Francis during his visit to Africa in Nairobi on November 25, 2015. Crowds lined Nairobi's streets to welcome the pontiff during his visit to Kenya,Uganda and the troubled Central African Republic (CAR) on a six-day trip. Vast crowds are expected to turn out to see his motorcade pass. Kenya's government has declared November 26, 2015, the first full day of his visit, in which Francis will hold a giant open air mass in central Nairobi, a public holiday and a "national day of prayer and reflection. Authorities plan to deploy over 10,000 police in the capitals of Kenya and Uganda during the pope's visit. Nairobi and Kampala are both targets for Al-Qaeda's East Africa branch, the Shebab, because they have troops deployed in Somalia.
Pope Francis (C) celebrates a giant open-air mass at the University of Nairobi on November 26, 2015. Pope Francis landed in Kenya's capital Nairobi on November 25 on the first leg of a landmark trip to Africa, with huge crowds, choirs and dancers waiting to greet him. The 78-year-old pontiff, the third pope to visit the continent, is also scheduled to visit Uganda and the troubled Central African Republic (CAR) on a six-day trip.
This handout picture released by the Vatican press office shows Pope Francis during a meeting with religious men and women, seminarist and clerics, on November 26, 2015 at the St Mary's school in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi.
Pope Francis smiles at the Church of Saint Joseph the worker in the Nairobi shanty town of Kangemi before leading a mass on November 27, 2015 in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Pope Francis lashed out at wealthy minorities who hoard resources at the expense of the poor as he visited a crowded slum in the Kenyan capital. "These are wounds inflicted by minorities who cling to power and wealth, who selfishly squander while a growing majority is forced to flee to abandoned, filthy and run-down peripheries," the 78-year-old pontiff told crowds in the Nairobi shanty town of Kangemi.
The Pope's aide Sandro Mariotti (L) helps Pope Francis get up from his wheelchair as the Pope arrives on stage to preside over a beatification mass of late Pope John Paul I, on September 4, 2022 at St. Peter's square in the Vatican.
This handout photo released by Osservatore Romano shows Pope Francis hugging a boy at the Apostolic Nunciature in Lima on January 19, 2018.
Pope Francis is to make his first visit to the Amazon on the final leg of a South American trip, with a festive atmosphere awaiting him in Puerto Maldonado as thousands of indigenous people are gathering.
Pope Francis opens a "Holy Door" at St John in Lateran basilica on December 13, 2015 at the Vatican. From a village church in Iraq to a prison in Rome, "Holy Doors" have been opened around the world at the start of the Vatican's Jubilee year, offering Catholics forgiveness for their sins. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door in Saint Peter's Basilica on Sunday, kicking off a series of ceremonies to open doors pilgrims can walk through in a year set aside for pardons. Traditionally, Catholics were expected to make a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee. But Francis has effectively done away with this custom by ordering Holy Doors to open around the world.
TOPSHOT - Pope Francis kisses a baby on the popemobile prior to presiding over the Holy Rosary prayer with sick young people at the Chapel of Apparitions in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, in Fatima, on August 5, 2023. Around one million pilgrims from all over the world will attend the World Youth Day, the largest Catholic gathering in the world, created in 1986 by John Paul II.
Pope Francis blesses the crowd from the window of the apostolic palace overlooking St Peter's square during his Angelus prayer, in the Vatican City, on August 7, 2016.
Pope Francis ponders during the inauguration of a UNESCO chair at the Pontifical Lateran University on October 7, 2021 in Rome.
Pope Francis meets with refugees from Ukraine during the weekly general audience on March 30, 2022 at Paul-VI hall in The Vatican.
Pope Francis swings a thurible of incense during an ordination mass on April 25, 2021 at St. Peter's Basilica in The Vatican, during which he is to ordain nine priests for his diocese as bishop of Rome.
This photo taken and handout on April 02, 2022 by The Vatican Media shows Pope Francis in the popemobile var upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Valletta, Malta, on the first day of the Pope's two-day trip to the Mediterranean archipelago. - Pope Francis heads for a two-day trip to Catholic-majority Malta where he will again highlight the plight of migrants, as the Ukraine war sends a stream of refugees across Europe.
Pope Francis blesses the faithfuls after a mass to the italian youths at St. Peter's square in the Vatican, on August 12,2018.
TOPSHOT - This handout photo taken on September 16, 2016 and released by the Vatican press office (Osservatore Romano) shows Pope Francis holding an infant during his visit to the neonatology ward of San Giovanni Hospital in Rome.
Pope Francis gives a general audience at St Peter's square on November 5, 2014 at the Vatican.
(L to R) Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, Pope Francis, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa, and Grand Imam of al-Azhar mosque Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb attend a ceremony at Sakhir Royal Palace, in Sakhir city on November 4, 2022.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (R) of Constantinople and Pope Francis wave on November 30, 2014 after a celebration of a divine liturgy at the Orthodox Patriarchal Church of St. George in Istanbul. Pope Francis on Sunday launched a strong appeal to end the millenium-old schism between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches to bring them back into full communion, saying the conflicts in the world had made unity even more urgent.
This combo made with twelve file picture on February 11, 2013 shows Cardinals likely to succeed to Pope Benedict XVI who announced today he will step down at the end of this month after an eight-year pontificate. Top row from left : Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes, Honduran Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodrigues Maradiaga, Argentine Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Mexican Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, Brazilian Joao Braz de Aviz, Philippines' Luis Antonio Tagle, and Nigerian Peter Turkson. Bottom row from left : Austrian Cristoph Schonborn, Hungarian Peter Erdoe, Italian Angelo Scola, Canadian Marc Ouellet, Nigerian Francis Arinze, Nigerian John Onaiyekan, and USA's Timothy Dolan.
Pope Francis (R) poses with Catholicos of All Armenians leader Karekin II during a private audience on April 5, 2018 at the Vatican.
Pope Francis (R) poses with Catholicos of All Armenians leader Karekin II during a private audience on April 5, 2018 at the Vatican.
Pope Francis kisses a baby as he arrives for his weekly general audience at St Peter's square on October 7, 2015 at the Vatican.
Kenyan newspapers welcomed Pope Francis in style in this photo taken on 25th November 2015. The Pope will be in the country for a three day tour.
Pope Francis arrives for a meeting children of refugees and migrants on May 28, 2016 in Vatican.
Pope Francis kisses a baby as he arrives for his weekly general audience at St Peter's square on April 21, 2016 in Vatican. / AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI
This handout picture taken on April 17, 2013 and released by the Vatican press office shows under-secretary to the pontifical council Miguel Delgado Galindo (R) presenting a personally autographed jersey from Barcelona striker Argentinian Lionel Messi after the pontiff's weekly general audience at St Peter's square. Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, who like Pope Francis is Argentinian, sent his compatriot a shirt with the words "with much affection", the Vatican said.
Pope Francis is surrounded by Agnes Abuom from Kenya, Moderator of the WCC Central Committee, Mauricio Rueda Beltz from Colombia, Papal trip organizer and Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, as well as on the right, Olav Fykse Tveit from Norway, General Secretary of WCC, at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, in Western Switzerland, Thursday, June 21, 2018. Pope Francis visits the World Council of Churches as centrepiece of the ecumenical commemoration of the WCC's 70th anniversary, Switzerland June 21, 2018.
Pope Francis hugs a child after celebrating his first Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Sunday, March 31, 2013. Pope Francis celebrated his first Easter Sunday Mass as pontiff in St. Peter's Square, packed by joyous pilgrims, tourists and Romans and bedecked by spring flowers.Wearing cream-colored vestments, Francis strode onto the esplanade in front of St. Peter's Basilica and took his place at an altar set up under a white canopy.
Kenyan faithful gather to welcome the Pope at the Kasarani Sports Stadium in Nairobi on November 27, 2015. Pope Francis lashed out at wealthy minorities who hoard resources at the expense of the poor as he visited a crowded Nairobi slum on November 27, wrapping up the first leg of a three nation tour. Pope Francis is on a five-day visit to Kenya, Uganda and Central African Republic (CAR).
Pope Francis waves during the Regina Coeli prayer on April 30, 2017 at St Peter's square.
Pope Francis signs an autograph on the plaster bandage of young girl during his weekly general audience at St Peter's square on April 3, 2013 at the Vatican.
Pope Francis blesses a toddler during the weekly general audience on February 12, 2020 at Paul-VI hall in the Vatican.
Pope Francis (R) meets with victims of the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at the Apostolic Nunciature in Kinshasa, DRC, on February 1, 2023. - Pope Francis arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo on January 31, 2023, on the first leg of a six-day trip to Africa that will also include troubled South Sudan.
Catholic faithfuls sing songs at St. Mary's school on November 26, 2015, during Pope Francis meeting with the Catholic Clergy Men and women.
This photo taken and handout on April 18, 2019 by the Vatican press office, Vatican Media, shows Pope Francis kisses an inmate's foot as he washes the feet of inmates at the Velletri prison, south of Rome, during the Holy Thursday celebrations. - Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter, commemorating the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels.
A Catholic faithful follows proceeding as she records every moment using her mobile phone, a mass presided over by Pope Francis in Nairobi, on a television screen provided for the public, at St John’s Cathedral Catholic Church grounds in Eldoret town on November 26, 2015.A Catholic faithful follows proceeding as she records every moment using her mobile phone, a mass presided over by Pope Francis in Nairobi, on a television screen provided for the public, at St John’s Cathedral Catholic Church grounds in Eldoret town on November 26, 2015.
A 2016 family calendar bearing a portrait of Pope Francis on sale at Catholic Bookshop in Nakuru on November 23, 2015. Hundreds of faithful from the Catholic Diocese of Nakuru are expected to travel to Nairobi today to attend the historical mass led by Pope Francis, who arrives in Kenya tomorrow on a historic visit to East and Central Africa.
Children from St Paul Church in Nairobi rehearsing at the Papal dais at the University of Nairobi grounds in preparation to the coming of Pope Francis on November 15 October 2015.
The Reverend Sister Ida Lagonegro shows the vestments Pope Francis will wear during his visit to the country, in Nairobi on October 21, 2015. The pontiff will be in Kenya from November 25 to 27, spend the next two days in Uganda and travel on to the Central African Republic (CAR), where the trip will end on November 30, according to a Vatican itinerary published on October 17.
Pope Francis Benedict XVI (Centre) flanked by Bishops Cornelius Korir (left) and Wilson Kurui (right) follow proceedings during the Pope’s visit to St Joseph the worker Catholic Church in Kangemi slums, Nairobi on November 27, 2015.
Pope Francis smiles at the Church of Saint Joseph the worker in Kangemi after leading mass on November 27, 2015 in Nairobi. Pope Francis lashed out at wealthy minorities who hoard resources at the expense of the poor as he visited the slum.
Pope Francis speaks to journalists on his flight from Rome to Nairobi onNovember 25, 2015. Pope Francis flew out of Rome bound for Kenya on the first leg of a landmark trip to Africa that is fraught with security risks.
Pope Francis having a word with President Uhuru Kenyatta after he arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on November 25, 2015 as he starts his three-day tour.
Pope Francis having a word with President Uhuru Kenyatta after he arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on November 25, 2015 as he starts his three-day tour.
Pope Francis and his delegation disembarks from the plane when they arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on November 25, 2015 as he starts his three-day tour.
Linet Njogu displaying a present she was given by Pope Francis at Safaricom Stadium in Nairobi on November 27,2015 where he addressed youth.
Linet Njogu displaying a present she was given by Pope Francis at Safaricom Stadium in Nairobi on November 27,2015 where he addressed youth.
President Uhuru Kenyatta waves as the plane carrying Pope Francis prepares to take off from JKIA after the Pontiff concluded his three-day visit in the country.
President Uhuru Kenyatta waves as the plane carrying Pope Francis prepares to take off from JKIA after the Pontiff concluded his three-day visit in the country.
Pope Francis waves goodbye after embarking his plane at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on November 27, 15 after his three-days tour in the countryPhoto | Jeff Angote | Nairobi
Pope Francis arrives in his pope mobile at the University of Nairobi grounds on November 26, 2015 to lead a mass.
People gather at the University of Nairobi ahead of an open-air mass delivered by the pope on November 26, 2015. Pope Francis held his first open-air mass in Africa on November 26 with huge crowds calling heavy rains "God's blessing" as they sung and danced in the Kenyan capital. The 78-year-old pontiff, the third pope to visit the continent, is also scheduled to visit Uganda and the troubled Central African Republic (CAR) on a six-day trip.
Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the University of Nairobi on November 26, 2015. He was the third pope to visit the continent.
Bishops arrive to attend a giant open-air mass held by Pope Francis at the University of Nairobi on November 26, 2015. Pope Francis landed in Kenya's capital Nairobi on November 25 on the first leg of a landmark trip to Africa, with huge crowds, choirs and dancers waiting to greet him. The 78-year-old pontiff, the third pope to visit the continent, is also scheduled to visit Uganda and the troubled Central African Republic (CAR) on a six-day trip.
Kenyans listen to Pope Francis's holy mass via live CCTV on November 26, 2015 in Central Park in Nairobi. Pope Francis held his first open-air mass in Africa on November 26 with huge crowds calling heavy rains "God's blessing" as they sung and danced in the Kenyan capital. Thousands of people queued throughout the night braving torrential rains to secure a place at the first mass celebrated by Francis on African soil.
Pope Francis waving to a crowd that turned up at University of Nairobi for the open Mass on November 26,2015.
Catholic faithful queue at dawn as they wait for security clearance to access the University of Nairobi pavilion on November 26, 2015, where the Pope Francis is scheduled to hold a public mass in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Pope Francis landed in Kenya's capital Nairobi on November 25 on the first leg of a landmark trip to Africa, with huge crowds, choirs and dancers waiting to greet him. The 78-year-old pontiff, the third pope to visit the continent, is also scheduled to visit Uganda and the troubled Central African Republic (CAR) on a six-day trip.
Catholic faithful queue at dawn as they wait for security clearance to access the University of Nairobi pavilion on November 26, 2015, where the Pope Francis is scheduled to hold a public mass in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Pope Francis landed in Kenya's capital Nairobi on November 25 on the first leg of a landmark trip to Africa, with huge crowds, choirs and dancers waiting to greet him. The 78-year-old pontiff, the third pope to visit the continent, is also scheduled to visit Uganda and the troubled Central African Republic (CAR) on a six-day trip.
Chairman of Pope's Visit Secretariat, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops Bishop Alfred Rotich(right) and State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu briefing journalists at Harambee House in Nairobi on November 1,2015 on the preparations for the Visit in Kenya of Pope Francis who is expected on November 25th to 27th.
President Willliam Ruto with Pope Francis at the 50th G7 Summit, held at Apulia in Italy.President Ruto is one of the five African leaders invited to attend the 50th G7 Summit, held at in Italy.
President Uhuru Kenyatta with Pope Francis at the start of an official visit to the Vatican.
Pope Francis waves to faithful as he arrives for a Papal mass in Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 26, 2015.
Pope Francis (C) kisses the altar as he starts the Papal mass in Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 26, 2015.
A general view is seen of the Catholic mass led by Pope Francis at the University of Nairobi (UON) in Kenya's capital Nairobi November 26, 2015.
Pope Francis (L) talks with Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta (R) during a meeting at the State House in Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 25, 2015. Picture taken November 25, 2015.
Pope Francis waves as he arrives to attend a meeting with clergy at St Mary's School in Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 26, 2015.
Pope Francis (R) delivers a speech during a meeting with inter-religious and ecumenical representatives at the apostolic nunciature in Nairobi, Kenya, November 26, 2015.
Pope Francis is escorted as he arrives at the United Nations headquarters in Kenya's capital Nairobi, November 26, 2015.
A handout picture taken on October 26, 2013 and released by Osservatore Romano on October 29, 2013 shows Pope Francis addressing the crowd at St Peter's square in the Vatican with a boy standing next to him on the occasion of Family Day.
President of South Sudan Salva Kiir (R) walks next to Pope Francis (2nd L) upon the Pope's arrival at the Juba International Airport in Juba, South Sudan, on February 3, 2023. - Pope Francis arrived on a three-day visit to South Sudan on February 3, 2023 to promote peace and reconciliation in the world's youngest country, riven by the scars of civil war and extreme poverty.
