Where Was Pope Francis Born? Full Name, Life, Death & Legacy

Mariam SulaimonApril 21, 2025

0 6 minutes read

Where was Pope Francis born? Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, is widely recognised for his humility, profound spirituality, and commitment to social justice. But where was Pope Francis born, and how did his birthplace shape his worldview, leadership, and spiritual legacy?

This article examines the early life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, his ascent through the ranks of the Catholic Church, and the influence of his Latin American heritage on his papacy.

Where Was Pope Francis Born

Where Was Pope Francis Born?

Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and he was raised in the working-class neighborhood of Flores. As the son of Italian immigrants, his upbringing in Latin America deeply influenced his values of humility, compassion, and service to the poor. Being the first pope from Latin America, his birthplace holds significant symbolic and cultural meaning in shaping his global and inclusive approach to leading the Roman Catholic Church.

Birth and Early Life in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Pope Francis was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in the southern hemisphere. His birth name was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, and he was the eldest of five children born to Italian immigrants Mario Bergoglio and Regina María Sívori. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Holy Father Francis was raised in the working-class neighborhood of Flores.

His father, Mario Bergoglio, worked as an accountant for the railways, while his mother was a homemaker. This modest and humble upbringing in Latin America would come to define much of Pope Francis’ later advocacy for the poor and marginalized. Buenos Aires, a bustling capital with strong Italian and Catholic influences, provided a unique cultural and spiritual backdrop that informed Bergoglio’s identity as a Roman Catholic leader.

A Religious Calling from a Young Age

The young Jorge Bergoglio attended technical secondary school and studied chemistry before feeling called to the priesthood. He entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1958, beginning a lifelong journey of service within the Catholic Church. His spiritual formation included rigorous academic study, missionary work, and pastoral duties, all of which prepared him for the complex role of shepherding a global church.

By the time he was ordained as a priest in 1969, Cardinal Bergoglio had already demonstrated a strong sense of empathy, discipline, and theological insight. His Jesuit background, known for intellectual rigor and missionary zeal, played a central role in shaping his approach to leadership and his desire to bring the Church closer to everyday people.

Rise to the Papacy: From Bishop to Pope

In 1992, Bergoglio was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires and later became its archbishop in 1998. As Bishop Wojtyła had once done in Poland, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became a leading figure in his home country, advocating for the poor and speaking out against corruption.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II elevated him to Cardinal, giving him a more prominent role in the global Catholic hierarchy. During his time as Cardinal Bergoglio, he was known for living a simple life—riding the bus, cooking his meals, and residing in a modest apartment rather than the bishop’s palace. These qualities echoed the lifestyle of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint for whom he would later name himself as pope.

The 2013 Papal Election

Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, the first such resignation since Pope Gregory XII, a papal election was held in the Sistine Chapel of Vatican City. On March 13, 2013, the white smoke rose from the Apostolic Palace, signaling that a new Holy Father had been chosen.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the new pope, taking the papal name Francis—St. Francis being a symbol of humility, peace, and care for creation. He became the first non-Italian pope since John Paul II, the first Jesuit pope, and notably, the first pope from Latin America.

Significance of His Birthplace in His Papacy

The fact that Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, holds deep theological and symbolic importance. His Latin American background has influenced many aspects of his papacy, including his emphasis on poverty alleviation, social justice, and environmental stewardship.

Unlike many of his predecessors—Pope John Paul I, Pope Paul VI, and Pope John XXIII—Francis comes from a region often overlooked in papal history. His selection as pope reflects the Catholic Church’s growing demographic shift toward the Global South.

Francis has repeatedly emphasized the need for the Roman Catholic Church to be a “field hospital,” caring for the wounded and broken, especially the poor. This pastoral vision is rooted in the challenges he witnessed firsthand in Argentina, where social inequality and political turmoil were ever-present.

Francis’ Legacy as the 266th Pope

As the 266th pope, Francis has become a transformative figure in the modern Church. He has prioritized issues like climate change, income inequality, immigration, and interfaith dialogue. His encyclical Laudato Si’, calling for global ecological conversion, drew on his Latin American identity and his deep devotion to St. Francis.

In global affairs, Pope Francis has served as a moral compass. Whether meeting with world leaders such as Vice President JD Vance, visiting refugee camps, or addressing the faithful from St. Peter’s Square, Francis has modeled a new kind of papal engagement—grounded in his roots as Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Buenos Aires.

His Influence on Catholic Doctrine and Global Outreach

Pope Francis has not altered official Catholic Church doctrine significantly, but he has reemphasized pastoral care, compassion, and inclusion. From encouraging the Church to “go to the peripheries” to his famous statement, “Who am I to judge?” about gay priests, Francis has widened the scope of dialogue in the Church.

His emphasis on synodality—a consultative and participatory model of governance—mirrors the Second Vatican Council’s (also known as Vatican II) call for greater lay involvement and collegiality. In this sense, Francis continues the legacy of reform begun by predecessors like Pope John XXIII and Paul VI.

His relationship with previous popes is also significant. While Pope Benedict XVI remained in Vatican City as Pope Emeritus, Francis often expressed admiration for his predecessor’s intellect. He frequently invoked the legacy of Pope John Paul II, especially regarding youth engagement, as seen in his enthusiastic support for World Youth Day.

Final Years and Health Struggles

In his later years, Pope Francis faced various health challenges. He was hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome multiple times and battled conditions including respiratory infections and a hernia. Despite these issues, he continued to serve with unwavering dedication, making his disability part of his visible identity, as many observers noted.

He lived at Casa Santa Marta instead of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, reinforcing his desire to stay close to the people. His residence was known for being modest and accessible—a choice that reflected his roots and his devotion to simplicity.

In 2025, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, a prominent figure in the Holy See, announced Pope Francis’ death at Domus Sanctae Marthae on Easter Monday. Though the exact cause was initially undisclosed, sources later revealed a likely stroke. He was expected to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, a basilica he cherished.

Where Was Pope Francis Born: Conclusion

So, where was Pope Francis born? He was born in the neighborhood of Flores in Buenos Aires, Argentina—a place that deeply influenced his commitment to the poor, his embrace of simplicity, and his inclusive approach to Church leadership.

This unique origin made him relatable to Catholics around the globe and allowed him to redefine the papacy for a new generation. The Roman Catholic Church, long centered on European traditions, found new life in the Latin American pontiff who chose the name Francis—inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the patron of peace and the poor.

From St. Peter’s Basilica to the corners of rural South America, the legacy of Pope Francis—born Jorge Mario Bergoglio—will continue to echo through the halls of the Vatican, the Catholic bishops, and the hearts of over a billion faithful.