We reflect on the life of Pope Francis.

Francis’ inauguration in 2013 involved a motor car. It was reported that he had declined the armour-plated Pope Mobile, favoured by his predecessors, in favour of a more modest form of transportation. It was said that he insisted on importing his old second-hand Fiat from Buenos Aires. He believed that the Church had to be on the side of the poor and that clergy should model a modest way of life. This vehicular bias was also noted during one of his early Papal visits.

On a trip to the Mediterranean island of Lampedusa in 2013, he dropped a wreath into waters where thousands of migrants had drowned attempting to reach Europe from Africa. Shunning a military grade and bullet proof Mercedes, he instead chose an open-topped Jeep to travel around.

He spoke tenderly to the island’s many immigrants; most of whom were not Catholic but largely Muslim. Unlike every other leader, who saw an opportunity to speak out against the wrongs of immigration, Pope Francis commended them for their faith and hope of a better life.

Addressing an audience of priests and nuns, he warned them against using the latest smart phone, the fastest car, telling them, ‘It hurts my heart when I see a priest with the latest model car,’ adding, ‘If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world.’¹ Following his death on April 21, 2025, Pope Francis’ commitment to social justice has been well documented.

A man of peace and poverty

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The son of Italian immigrants, he worked as a chemical technician before entering seminary to train as a priest and received his spiritual formation under the supervision of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).² Ordained as a priest in 1969, he served in various roles within the Church in Argentina, eventually becoming the Archbishop of Buenos Aires.

In 2001, he was made a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. When formally asked on 13 March 2013 if he accepted his election as the Bishop of Rome, he replied in Latin: ‘I am a sinner, but I trust in the infinite mercy and patience of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ He chose the name Francis, after Francis of Assisi. ‘For me, he is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation… How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor.’

Some commentators would suggest that the Pope’s commitment to simplicity and justice arose out of a need to redress a controversy which bedevilled him in an earlier period of his life. During his time as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires before becoming Pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (later Pope Francis) faced a significant controversy stemming from the period of Argentina’s ‘Dirty War’ (1976-1983). This period was an era of state terrorism in Argentina, when the military junta that ruled the country used brutal methods to suppress left-wing guerrillas and any perceived political dissidents.

Accusations arose after the 1976 kidnapping of two Jesuit priests. Orlando Yorio and Francisco Jálics were working in the slums and espoused liberation theology, a movement he opposed. Critics alleged that Bergoglio may have failed to adequately protect these priests or may have even indirectly facilitated their capture by the military junta. Yorio himself later claimed that Bergoglio had urged them to leave the slums and expelled them from the Jesuit order shortly before their abduction, leaving them vulnerable to arrest. Decades later, some commentators wondered if his emphasis on mercy and justice was rooted in a sense of guilt over his treatment of the two priests.

A simple lifestyle

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was 76 when he became Pope. Along with reputedly eschewing the trappings of a fancy car, he also refused to move into the papal apartments, remaining in the Domus Santa Martha, the guesthouse where the cardinal electors had stayed. His papal predecessor, Benedict XVI, was living around the corner, and the two men frequently socialised until Benedict’s death in 2022. Pope Francis’ papacy will be remembered for his commitment to simplicity, humanity and justice. He envisaged a Church of mercy, emphasising God’s mercy and the need for the Church to be a field hospital for those wounded in life. He was a powerful advocate for the poor, refugees, and victims of injustice, speaking out against inequality.

As Pope, maybe uniquely, he extended his passion for social justice to the care of creation. His encyclical Laudato Si’ was a landmark document, addressing the urgent need to combat climate change and protect the environment. He opined that climate change involved wealthy countries taking advantage of poorer nations.³ And his aspirations were ambitious. He implemented a church-wide consultation, channelling the voices of people who often felt marginalised and unheard. He fostered relationships with other religious leaders, promoting understanding and cooperation between faiths.

And yet…

Critics of Pope Francis’ legacy have questioned the scope of his reforms. Despite his apparent openness to the greater involvement of women in the ministry of the church, nothing has changed. On matters of sexuality, he acknowledged that homosexuality is not a crime and called for the decriminalization of homosexuality and stated that God loves all his children as they are. However, nothing changed in terms of Catholic teaching, where homosexuality is still regarded a sin. And whilst speaking comforting words to Catholics whose marriages had ended in divorce and were seeking remarriage in church, he maintained traditional teaching and barred the door to reform. His greatest challenges were posed by prevalent clergy sexual abuse in Chile. In January 2018, during a visit to Chile, Pope Francis defended Bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering up sexual abuse by a local priest.

The Pope dismissed the allegations as mischief making, affirming that there was no evidence against Barros. His statement provoked widespread dismay. Cardinal Seán O’Malley, head of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, asserted that Francis’ comments were ‘a source of great pain for victims.’ Recognizing his error judgement, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Charles Scicluna to investigate the allegations and he acknowledged his own initial inadequacy. He expressed shame and sorrow for the Church’s failures and invited victims of clergy sexual abuse to the Vatican to ask for their forgiveness. In May 2018, Pope Francis met with all the Chilean Bishops and scolded them for covering up the extent of the abuse. All 34 bishops resigned, including Bishop Barros.

Pope Francis was a man whose informality and love of the poor, changed the style of the Papacy, creating a more immediate relationship with his global flock. He was a man of profound faith and articulated a theology of justice which embraced the whole of creation. But his instincts remained conservative and it’s unlikely that history will judge him to have been a Pontiff who reformed the structures and practices of the Church he served.