Top 10 Facts About Pope Francis

Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936. He is the first pope from the Americas and the first from the Southern Hemisphere.

He was ordained a priest in 1969 and became Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992. He was appointed Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement on February 28, 2013, and Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, taking the name Francis. He is the 266th pontiff of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis has been described as “charismatic” and “humble”. He is known for his simple lifestyle and his focus on serving the poor and needy.

In 2015, Pope Francis visited the United States, becoming the first pope to do so since Pope John Paul II in 1979. He also became the first pope to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

Pope Francis has been outspoken on issues such as poverty, immigration, climate change, and social justice. He has also been critical of capitalism and globalization.

Pope Francis is set to visit Egypt in late April 2017. This will be his first trip to Africa as pope.

Here are 10 facts about Pope Francis:

1. Pope Francis is the first pontiff from the Americas and from the Southern Hemisphere.

2. He was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 17, 1936.

3. Bergoglio was ordained a priest in 1969 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires in 1992.

4. He became Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

5. Pope Benedict XVI announced his retirement on February 28, 2013, and Bergoglio was elected pope the following month, taking the name Francis.

6. Pope Francis has been described as “charismatic” and “humble”. He is known for his simple lifestyle and his focus on serving the poor and needy.

7. In 2015, Pope Francis visited the United States, becoming the first pope to do so since Pope John Paul II in 1979. He also became the first pope to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

8. Pope Francis has been outspoken on issues such as poverty, immigration, climate change, and social justice. He has also been critical of capitalism and globalization.

9. Pope Francis is set to visit Egypt in late April 2017. This will be his first trip to Africa as pope.

10. In February 2016, Time magazine named Pope Francis as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.