Pope Francis

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church and the bishop of Rome. He is the first pope from the Americas, the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope to be a member of the Society of Jesus. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Bergoglio worked various jobs including bouncer and janitor before pursuing a career in chemistry. After recovering from illness, he joined the Jesuits in 1958 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969. He served as the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina before becoming the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. Pope John Paul II created him a cardinal in 2001. Pope Francis has been an influential figure in the Catholic Church, emphasizing humility and social justice.