Pope Francis’ most memorable moments as pontiff in photos
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1. Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on Dec. 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was elected as the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church in March 2013, becoming the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere.


Pope Francis blesses sick and disabled people at the end of a pro-life Mass in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, June 16, 2013.
Pope Francis blesses sick and disabled people at the end of a pro-life Mass in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, on June 16, 2013. AP


President Barack Obama, left, meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Thursday, March 27, 2014.
Former President Barack Obama meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on March 27, 2014. AP

Pope Francis addresses the joint session of Congress in Washington, DC on September 24, 2014.
Pope Francis addresses the joint session of Congress in Washington, DC on Sept. 24, 2014. AFP via Getty Images


Pope Francis prays at Israel's separation barrier on his way to a Mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Sunday, May 25, 2014.
Pope Francis prays at Israel’s separation barrier on his way to a Mass in Manger Square next to the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on May 25, 2014. AP


Pope Francis greets Argentinian former football star Diego Armando Maradona (R) prior to a meeting with members of the Scholas Occurentes organization at the Vatican on September 4, 2014.
Pope Francis greets Argentine former football star Diego Armando Maradona before a meeting with members of the Scholas Occurrentes organization at the Vatican on Sept. 4, 2014. AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis walks next to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 10, 2015.
Pope Francis walks alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin during their private audience at the Vatican on June 10, 2015. AP


Pope Francis, left, stands in front of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI entering St. Peter's Basilica accompanied by Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, right with back to camera, at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015.
Pope Francis, left, stands in front of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI entering St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 8, 2015. AP


Pope Francis (C) releases a dove as a symbol of peace during a meeting with Chaldean community at the Catholic Church of St Simon Bar Sabbae in Tbilisi, on September 30, 2016.
Pope Francis releases a dove as a symbol of peace during a meeting with the Chaldean community at the Catholic Church of St Simon Bar Sabbae in Tbilisi, on Sept. 30, 2016. AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis walks towards the main entrance with the lettering "Arbeit Macht Frei" (Work Sets You Free) at the former Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Oswiecim on July 29, 2016 as part of his visit to the World Youth Days
Pope Francis walks towards the main entrance with the lettering “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work Sets You Free) at the former Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in Oswiecim on July 29, 2016 as part of his visit to the World Youth Days. AFP via Getty Images


Pope Francis meets with US President Donald Trump and First lady Melania Trump on the occasion of their private audience, at the Vatican, Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
Pope Francis meets with President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump on the occasion of their private audience at the Vatican on May 24, 2017. AP


Pope Francis connects to the crew aboard the International Space Station from the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017.
Pope Francis connects to the crew aboard the International Space Station from the Vatican on Oct. 26, 2017. AP

Pope Francis smiles at the faithful from the Popemobile in Santiago, on January 15, 2018.
Pope Francis smiles at the faithful from the Popemobile in Santiago, on Jan. 15, 2018. AFP via Getty Images


Pope Francis greets faithful after celebrating Mass on the occasion of the Migrant and Refugee World Day, in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019
Pope Francis greets the faithful after celebrating Mass on the occasion of Migrant and Refugee World Day in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Sept. 29, 2019. AP


Pope Francis, surrounded by shells of destroyed churches, leads a prayer for the victims of war at Hosh al-Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul, Iraq, once the de-facto capital of IS, Sunday, March 7, 2021.
Pope Francis, surrounded by shells of destroyed churches, leads a prayer for the victims of war at Hosh al-Bieaa Church Square, in Mosul, Iraq, on March 7, 2021. AP

Pope Francis, right, meets with Iraq's leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, Iraq.
Pope Francis, right, meets with Iraq’s leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in Najaf, Iraq, on March 6, 2021. AP


Pope Francis puts on an indigenous headdress during a meeting with Indigenous communities, including First Nations, Metis and Inuit, at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Church in Maskwacis, near Edmonton, Canada, Monday, July 25, 2022.
Pope Francis puts on an indigenous headdress during a meeting with Indigenous communities, including First Nations, Metis, and Inuit, at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Church in Maskwacis, near Edmonton, Canada, on July 25, 2022. AP


Pope Francis holds a baby as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025.
Pope Francis holds a baby as he leaves at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, on Jan. 29, 2025. AP

Pope Francis delivers his Urbi Et Orbi Blessing from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square on April 20, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican. Getty Images
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