Pope Francis

Pope Francis revolutionized Vatican leadership as the first Jesuit pope and first Latin American pontiff in modern history. Serving from 2013 until his death in 2025, he brought unprecedented global perspective to the Catholic Church, becoming the first non-European pope since 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III. As head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City, Francis championed social justice and environmental causes, leveraging his moral authority to drive real-world impact worldwide.