From Chemical Technician to Pope: The Journey of Francis
He was also the first Pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, lived a life marked by service, humility, and dedication to faith.
His journey to becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church began in a rather unexpected place—inside a food processing plant.
After completing high school, he trained and worked as a chemical technician in the food industry.
But it was not long before he left that path to follow a deeper calling.
He joined the Jesuit novitiate in 1958, beginning a new chapter of academic and spiritual growth.
During his time in the novitiate, Pope Francis studied humanities, showing a strong interest in education.
After graduating, he became a high school teacher, focusing on literature and psychology.
Even as he taught, he continued to pursue his theological studies, eventually leading to his ordination into priesthood in 1969.
His commitment to the Jesuit order deepened in 1973 when he took his final vows.
That same year, he was appointed head of the Jesuit province of Argentina, a role he held until 1979.
In the years that followed, he continued teaching and also served as a seminary rector during the 1980s.
His leadership within the church grew steadily. In 1992, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires, and just six years later, in 1998, he became the archbishop.
He remained in that role even after being consecrated a Cardinal in 2001.
A major turning point in his life came in February 2013, after Pope Benedict XVI stepped down due to age and health issues.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope and took the name Francis, becoming the first pontiff to do so. He chose not to include the Roman numeral “I” after his name.
His election was historic in several ways. He became the first Pope from the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits.
He was also the first Pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere. Moreover, he was the first Pope to be born or raised outside Europe since the 8th century, when Syrian-born Gregory III led the Church.
Illness and Demise
The Pope suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man.
He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia.
He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy.
The illness had reportedly begun affecting his kidneys, with early signs of renal complications surfacing in recent days.
His health had been a concern in recent months, and the Church had been closely monitoring his condition.
Pope Francis had been hospitalised at the same facility earlier in 2021, where he spent 10 days recovering from a colon surgery.
He died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.