Pope Francis

Pope Francis is the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, having been elected on March 13, 2013. He is the first pope from the Americas and the Southern Hemisphere, hailing from Argentina. His birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. As pope, he is the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide and serves as the Bishop of Rome. Pope Francis is known for his emphasis on humility, social justice, and a more pastoral approach to church leadership. He has focused on issues such as poverty, climate change, migration, and the need for interfaith dialogue. His papacy is characterized by efforts to reform the church, address clerical abuse scandals, and promote a more inclusive church culture.