“The idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers, and experts in technology... is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the Earth”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Figure timeline
Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope born or raised outside Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.
entertainment · Head of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025 · Latin Catholic priest · writer · preacher · Latin Catholic bishop · politician · chemical technologist · autobiographer · Catholic theologian · university teacher · philosopher · also Pope Francis, Francisco, Pope Francis I, Franciscus I, François Bergoglio, Francis
Born 17 December 1936 · Died 21 April 2025 · Q450675
140 published statements · 0 followers
Updated 2 days agoSee & hear
14 photos
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
Unverified headlines, straight from trusted outlets’ feeds
Checking the wires…
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Connections
Live pulse
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
“The idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers, and experts in technology... is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the Earth”
“This thought gives us hope! We are on the way to the Resurrection. And this is our joy: one day find Jesus, meet Jesus and all together, all together — not here in the square, the other way — but joyful with Jesus. This is our destiny.”
“an extraordinary and excoriating response to US bishops”
“I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous peoples.”
“the fact that the woman does not access ministerial life is not a deprivation, because her place is much more important”
“to put on garments of public penance for the sins committed during the years of the dictatorship”
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025).
Snopes rated the claim “Pope Francis donated a "popemobile," one of the vehicles the late pope used for transportation, to a Catholic relief organization to convert the vehicle into a mobile health unit for children in Gaza.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Pope Francis funeral footage shows it was a ‘satanic ritual’” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “A video shows Palestinian flags waved at Pope Francis's funeral” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “A video shows Pope Francis's final speech before he died” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Video shows gathering to honour the late Pope Francis.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AAP rated the claim “A video shows a rite performed at Pope Francis' funeral.” False. The video shows an Easter procession in Spain..
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “A dog belonging to Pope Francis refused to leave the pope's side after he died in April 2025.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Lead Stories rated the claim “An authentic photograph showed several mourners wearing blue attire at the funeral of Pope Francis” Digital Edit.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
AFP Fact Check rated the claim “Footage of Pope Francis's wake.” False.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes.com rated the claim “A photograph authentically shows a younger Pope Francis riding the subway in 1998.” Miscaptioned.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “Pope Francis once said in an interview: “I like to think of hell as empty. I hope it is.”” Correct Attribution.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “Before his death on April 21, 2025, Pope Francis made a lengthy statement beginning with, "The walls of hospitals have heard more honest prayers than churches."” Incorrect Attribution.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Died 2025-04-21.
“Opis: fragment homilii wygłoszonej na mszy inaugurującej pontyfikat.”
“Czasami Pan przechodzi obok nas, a my go nie zauważamy, tak bardzo „znając go” nie potrafimy go rozpoznać. Modlitwa daje nam czujność i pozwala go zatrzymać, kiedy przechodzi.”
“Opis: po wybraniu na papieża.”
“Chrześcijańska nadzieja jest duchem i nie zwodzi. To cnota teologiczna, więc w ostatecznym rozrachunku dar Boży, którego nie da się zredukować do czysto ludzkiego optymizmu. Bóg nie zadaje kłamu nadziei, nie może zaprzeczyć sobie. Bóg jest cały obietnicą.”
“Cnota jest przekonaniem, które przekształciło się w wewnętrzną i stabilną zasadę działania.”
“Bóg w historii zbawienia zbawił lud. Nie ma się pełnej tożsamości bez przynależności do ludu. Nikt z nas nie zbawia się sam, jako pojedyncza jednostka, lecz Bóg przyciąga nas ku sobie, mając na uwadze złożoną sieć relacji międzyosobowych, które tworzą wspólnotę ludzką.”
“Boli mnie, kiedy widzę księdza albo zakonnicę w najnowszym modelu samochodu.”
“Aborcja nie jest nigdy odpowiedzią, jakiej poszukują kobiety i rodziny. To raczej strach przed chorobą i samotnością wywołują wahania rodziców.”
Career landmark: death and funeral of Pope Francis.
“Bóg nie potrzebuje być przez nikogo broniony i nie chce, aby Jego imię było używane do terroryzowania ludzi. Proszę wszystkich o zaprzestanie używania religii w celu budzenia nienawiści, przemocy, ekstremizmu i ślepego fanatyzmu.”
“You ask me if the God of the Christians forgives those who don’t believe and who don’t seek the faith. I start by saying — and this is the fundamental thing — that God’s mercy has no limits if you go to him with a sincere and contrite heart. The issue for those who do not believe in God is to obey their conscience.”
In February 2025, Francis entered Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to bronchitis.
“Opis: fragment przemówienia wygłoszonego podczas odbierania nagrody Karola Wielkiego.”
“Opis: fragment homilii podczas mszy dla uczestników Światowych Dni Młodzieży na Campus Misericordiae w Brzegach.”
“Bez Krzyża (…) jesteśmy ludźmi doczesnymi, jesteśmy biskupami, kapłanami, kardynałami, papieżami, ale nie uczniami Pana.”
“Biskup nie może mieć psychiki księcia.”
Met with representatives of the Dialop group, a discussion group between Christians and Marxists, and encouraged them to cooperate
Was very critical of Francis, describing him as "imbecile" and a "communist turd"
In March 2023, Francis was hospitalized in Rome with a respiratory infection.
For disobedience rather than for the abuse allegations and was later incardinated into the Diocese of Koper
Issued the first apology by the Vatican for its role in the cultural erasure and forced assimilation of First Nations peoples in Canada from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries
In June 2022, after undergoing treatment to his knee, Francis canceled planned trips to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan.
“The death penalty cannot be employed for a purported state justice, since it does not constitute a deterrent nor render justice to victims, but only fuels the thirst for vengeance.”
Apologized for the Church's role in the Canadian Indian residential school system
Francis expressed "shame and sorrow" for the Catholic Church's role in abuses against the Indigenous peoples in Canada
Awarded Sexist Man Alive (2021).
In 2021, the Pope's health problems prompted rumors that he might resign, which Francis dismissed.
The Pope's health problems prompted rumors that he might resign, which Francis dismissed
That uneasy dialogue was better than no dialogue at all
On 26 November 2020, Francis became the first pope to write an op-ed for The New York Times, addressing issues such as COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings and the need for global solidarity.
A Lenten meditation for priests working in the Roman Curia, including Pope Francis and Luis Ladaria Ferrer, and met privately with Pope Francis in January 2022
Awarded Zayed Award for Human Fraternity (2019).
During the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, Francis was criticized by Zen and other Catholic clergy in Hong Kong for failing to take a stand against China's repression and instead being quoted as saying, "I would like t
That the commission was unable to come to a consensus
Francis's apostolic constitution Episcopalis communio allowed that the final document of a synod may become magisterial teaching simply with papal approval
Stated that ecocide was a sin and should be made "a fifth category of crimes against peace"
Francis defrocked Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, who maintained a prominent position in the church for decades despite repeated reports of sexual misconduct against him dating back to the 1980s
Francis acknowledged he had made "grave errors" in judgment about Barros, apologized to the victims and launched a Vatican investigation that resulted in the resignation of three Chilean bishops: Barros, Gonzalo Duarte,
However, Francis approved a provisional Vatican-China agreement intended to normalize the situation of China's Catholics who numbered approximately 10 million as of 2024
Marking the first papal tour of the country since John Paul II's historic trip in 1979
Francis revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church to read that "in the light of the Gospel" the death penalty is "inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person" and that the Catho
After renewed allegations against McCarrick, Francis commissioned a Vatican investigation, which found that McCarrick had sexually molested both adults and minors
That he had the support of Francis
Awarded Bambi Award (2016).
Awarded Charlemagne Prize (2016).
Was named after both Francis and Francisco Maldonado da Silva, a victim of the Peruvian Inquisition
Francis became the first pope to create an Instagram account
In 2016, Francis became the first pope to create an Instagram account.
A Study Commission on the Women's Diaconate to research the role of female deacons in early Christianity
“A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian.”
Awarded Grand Collar of the Order of the Andes' Condor (2015).
Francis was criticized for supporting Chilean bishop Juan Barros who was accused of covering up Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in Chile, including crimes committed against minors
Catholic Yale historian Carlos Eire said Francis had a "preferential option for the oppressors" in Cuba
Francis presided over his first joint public wedding ceremony in a Nuptial Mass for 20 couples from the Archdiocese of Rome on 14 September 2014, a few weeks before the start of 5–19 October Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (the Synod on the Family).
The Vatican criticized some Italian news agencies, as well as the Agence France-Presse, for reporting that a comment Francis made was suggestive of an opening toward acceptance of same-sex marriage or civil unions; a Vat
In 2014, the Vatican criticized some Italian news agencies, as well as the Agence France-Presse, for reporting that a comment Francis made was suggestive of an opening toward acceptance of same-sex marriage or civil unions; a Vatican spokesperson said the pope's remark was taken out of context.
He was included in Forbes lists of most powerful people in the world in 2014 and 2016.
Awarded Time Person of the Year (2013).
Earned Gold Olympic Order (2013).
Francis initially reaffirmed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's programme to reform the US Leadership Conference of Women Religious which had been initiated under his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI
Francis was named Person of the Year by The Advocate, an American LGBTQ magazine
The Argentine Chamber of Deputies passed legislation to mint a commemorative coin as a tribute to Francis in 2013.
The Argentine club proceeded to visit Francis at the Vatican after winning both the 2013 Torneo Inicial and the 2014 Copa Libertadores, where he was gifted replicas of both trophies and a glove of goalkeeper Sebastian Torrico.
Career landmark: Patriarch of the West (2013–2025).
Career landmark: Pope (2013–2025).
In December 2013, both Time and The Advocate magazines named Francis as their "Person of the Year"; Esquire magazine named him as the "Best-dressed man" for 2013, citing his simpler vestments.
In March 2013, a new song was dedicated to Francis and released in Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, and Italian, titled Come Puoi (How You Can).
That the sisters' group had some feminist influences, focused too much on ending social and economic injustice and not enough on stopping abortion, and permitted speakers who questioned church doctrine
By Francis's predecessor Benedict
Then-Cardinal Bergoglio commissioned a study which concluded that Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse, was innocent, that his victims were lying, and that the case against him never should
Bergoglio called for national reconciliation during disturbances in the country's agricultural regions, which the government interpreted as a support for anti-government demonstrators
Shortly after Benedict XVI introduced new rules for pre–Vatican II liturgical forms, Bergoglio established a weekly Mass in this extraordinary form of the Roman Rite
Bergoglio helped fellow Jesuit Joaquín Piña win the elections in the Misiones Province and prevent an amendment to the local constitution that would allow indefinite re-elections
Career landmark: President of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina (2005–2011).
Myriam Bregman, a human rights lawyer, filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, as superior in the Society of Jesus of Argentina, accusing him of actual involvement in the kidnapping
Cardinal Bergoglio authorized the request for beatification—the third of four steps toward sainthood—for six members of the Pallottine community murdered in the San Patricio Church massacre
Would have chosen the pontifical name of "John XXIV" in honor of John XXIII
Career landmark: cardinalate creation.
Career landmark: cardinal priest (2001–2013).
And accepted the churchman's denials of sexual abuse, despite multiple reports
Bergoglio was the only church official to reconcile with Jerónimo Podestá, a former bishop who had been suspended as a priest after opposing the Argentine Revolution military dictatorship in 1972
And was created a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II
Career landmark: diocesan bishop (1998–2013).
Career landmark: Archbishop of Buenos Aires (1998–2013).
Career landmark: coadjutor archbishop (1997–1998).
Jesuit authorities asked Bergoglio not to live in Jesuit residences due to ongoing tensions with leaders and scholars; concerns about his "dissent", views on Catholic orthodoxy, and opposition to liberation theology; and
Career landmark: titular bishop (1992–1997).
And was consecrated on 27 June 1992 as titular bishop of Auca, with Cardinal Antonio Quarracino, archbishop of Buenos Aires, serving as principal consecrator
Career landmark: auxiliary bishop (1992–1997).
Career landmark: consecration.
The rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel where he had studied
Career landmark: Provincial of the Jesuits of Argentina and Uruguay (1973–1979).
Made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, but his stay was shortened by the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War
Career landmark: priestly ordination in the Roman rite.
And from 1973 to 1979 he was the Jesuit provincial superior in Argentina
Bergoglio began his theological studies at Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel
Taught the same courses at Colegio del Salvador in Buenos Aires
Bergoglio obtained a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio Máximo de San José
Born 1936-12-17.
“, US News, 21 September 2022 What is to happen next? How much blood must still flow for us to realize that war is never a solution, only destruction? In the name of God and in the name of the sense of humanity that dwells in every heart, I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire. My appeal is addressed first and foremost to the President of the Russian Federation, imploring him to stop this spiral of violence and death, also for the sake of his own people.”
To escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini
Won Order of the Golden Spur.
Awarded Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.
Awarded Order of Pius IX.
Awarded Order of the Smile.
Awarded Supreme Order of Christ.
Awarded Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.
Awarded Order of St. Gregory the Great.
Awarded Order of St. Sylvester.
Studied at Colegio Máximo de San José.
Studied at University of Buenos Aires, master's degree.
Studied at Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology.
Career landmark: Participated in 2015 Papal Consistory (tournament / event).
Career landmark: Participated in Consistory - 2001 (tournament / event).
Career landmark: Participated in 2016 Papal Consistory (tournament / event).
Career landmark: Participated in 2013 conclave (tournament / event).
Studied at Inmaculada Concepción Seminary.
Career landmark: Participated in 2005 conclave (tournament / event).
Studied at Facultades de Filosofía y Teología de San Miguel.
Career landmark: Participated in 2014 Papal Consistory (tournament / event).