Key Milestones in the Life and Times of Pope Francis

April 21, 2025, 5:20 am

A retrospective timeline spotlighting significant milestones for Pope Francis—from his early beginnings in Buenos Aires to his rise within the Catholic Church culminating in his papacy. The narrative walks through his formative years and key appointments, highlighting those defining moments that shaped his approach to leadership and his enduring impact on global religious discourse. In an era marked by both institutional challenges and modern reform debates, his journey stands as a testament to faith interwoven with history and diplomatic influence.

Bluesky: @theglobeandmail.com

torontosun.com / Pope Francis’s most defining moments

Pope Francis was known for his humility, advocacy for society’s most vulnerable, and bold stances on issues as varied as climate change, LGBTQ+ rights and global conflicts, including the war in the Gaza Strip. After almost 12 years as head of the Roman Catholic Church, he died Monday at age 88....

torontosun.com / How Francis, second-oldest pope in modern history, compared with others

Pope Francis, at 88, was the second-oldest pontiff in modern history after Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903 at the age of 93. Born in Buenos Aires on Dec. 17, 1936, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was elected pope in 2013 when he was 76 years old. Francis’s pontificate extended for 12 years. Pontiffs have...

torontosun.com / KINSELLA: Francis, the first Jesuit pope, was committed to positive change

We are unlikely to see the likes of him again

globalnews.ca / Pope Francis: Here are the key dates in the late pontiff’s life

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children in Dec. 17, 1936. Here's a timeline of key events in his life.

nationalpost.com / Raymond J. de Souza: Humble, but determined, Francis bent the papacy to his will

To certain traditional Catholic ears, the pontiff from Buenos Aires was cause for concern. To more worldly ears, he was cause for rejoicing

nationalpost.com / Pope Francis’s memoir illustrates the ‘messy’ challenges he faced and the contradictions of being human

Metaphor of the shipwreck narrowly avoided and bad luck begetting greater, good fortune extended beyond Pope Francis's life

winnipegfreepress.com / Pope Francis was a card-carrying soccer fan. And a promoter of the values in sports

theglobeandmail.com / Pope Francis spent a lifetime serving the poor and challenging Catholic Church orthodoxy

Argentine Jesuit priest eschewed the pomp of the Catholic Church’s highest office and advocated for the poor and peace

winnipegfreepress.com / Pope Francis reached out to migrants and the LGBTQ+ community, but also drew unusual opposition

citynews.ca / Pope Francis reached out to migrants and the LGBTQ+ community, but also drew unusual opposition

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Some takeaways about the life of Pope Francis, who died Monday: Background Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born Dec. 17, 1936, to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children. He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1969 and led the religious order in...

winnipegfreepress.com / ‘Who am I to judge?’ Pope Francis had an informal, lighthearted speaking style

citynews.ca / ‘Who am I to judge?’ Pope Francis had an informal, lighthearted speaking style

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis, who died on Monday, had an informal, lighthearted speaking style, and sometimes he even created words in a combination of his native Spanish with the Italian that he spoke as pope. Some of his memorable quotes: A simple, initial greeting “Brothers and sisters,...

winnipegfreepress.com / Francis changed church policy on the death penalty and nuclear weapons but upheld it on abortion

citynews.ca / Francis changed church policy on the death penalty and nuclear weapons but upheld it on abortion

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church’s teaching in areas such as the death penalty and nuclear weapons, upheld it in others such as abortion, and made inroads with Muslims and believers who long felt marginalized. Where Francis, who died on Monday, stood on key issues:...

citynews.ca / From Buenos Aires to Rome: Key dates in the life of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Key events in the life of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis and died on Monday: Dec. 17, 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio is born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the eldest of five children to Mario Jose Bergoglio, an accountant from Italy, and Regina María Sívori, the...

winnipegfreepress.com / From Buenos Aires to Rome: Key dates in the life of Pope Francis

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