A Pope of the People
Pope Francis’ Mission to Serve
By Sarah Kittle
He’s been a pope like no other. Pope Francis, the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, has been a figure of profound transformation and spiritual renewal ever since his election in 2013. A man known for his deep empathy and commitment to social justice, he has earned the affectionate titles “The People’s Pope” and “Pope of the 99%.” Beneath the headlines, Pope Francis’ story is one of faith, humility, and a passion for service.
He chose the papal name “Francis” in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, who was known for his simple life and kindness to all living things. He honored his patron saint with his social activism and selflessness and lived by the Prayer of St. Francis: “Lord, make me a channel of your peace.”
Francis’ vision of peace made him a pope of firsts. He was the first pope to visit a Chaldean/Assyrian church, traveling to Tbilisi, Georgia in 2016 and visiting the Church of Simon. Representatives from the Chaldean Church, including His Beatitude Mar Raphael Louis Sako were in attendance, along with representatives from the Michigan community, Bishop Ibrahim Ibrahim and Bishop Francis Kalabat.
He was also the first and only pope to visit Iraq, a landmark trip in 2021, aimed at strengthening interfaith dialogue and peace in a region that has long been ravaged by conflict. (Pope John Paul II wanted to visit but the Vatican could not reach an agreement with Saddam Hussein.)
Upon arrival at the Baghdad Airport, Pope Francis was greeted with music and dance, over which he shared a smile with Prime Minister Kadhimi. He spent three days in Iraq and on the final day, said a prayer at the church square in Mosul. He was overwhelmed by the greeting of more than 30,000 Christians who lined the roads from Baghdeda to Karamles. 10,000 Christians filled a stadium in Erbil to hear him speak. Across Christian Iraq, people were dancing and singing in the streets. That visit truly energized the Chaldean Catholic community in Iraq and throughout the diaspora, instilling hope that they may yet have a future in their homeland.
Promoting coexistence and mutual respect between Abrahamic religions, Pope Francis had a special mission to visit Ur, Abraham’s attributed homeland in the Bible. The plan was to unite the religions for talks of peace, but the Jewish representative was absent, possibly due to pressure from Iran. Pope Francis’ visit also included tours of churches and cemeteries that had been desecrated by ISIS.
Early Life and Spiritual Formation
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 17, 1936, Pope Francis grew up in a family marked by humility and hard work. His father, Mario, was a railway worker, and his mother, Regina, was a housewife. Bergoglio’s family left Italy in 1929, fleeing the oppressive fascist regime of Benito Mussolini. Growing up during the politically unstable and economically depressed era known as the “Infamous Decade” in Argentina, young Jorge witnessed firsthand the struggles of the poor and marginalized.
His early life was also marked by personal adversity. At 21, he suffered a serious illness, contracting life-threatening pneumonia and having part of his lung removed due to cysts. This health scare would later shape his outlook on life and faith, pushing him toward a deeper relationship with God.
As a young man, Bergoglio’s path to the priesthood was not immediately clear. He briefly doubted his calling after developing feelings for a young woman. However, after a moment of spiritual clarity in the confessional, he entered the seminary and joined the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1958. His formation as a Jesuit took him to Chile, where he studied humanities, and later, philosophy and theology.
Bergoglio worked various jobs to support himself through school, including as a bouncer and janitor. His commitment to academics and his deep intellectual curiosity led him to teach philosophy, literature, psychology, and theology before becoming Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998.
A Pope of Humility and Service
In many ways, Pope Francis’ papacy has been defined by simplicity and a personal commitment to serving the most vulnerable. He famously flew to Rome on a commercial flight, chose to live in the modest St. Martha’s House instead of the Papal Palace, and continues to eschew the trappings of wealth and power traditionally associated with the papacy. His humility was further illustrated when, after being elected pope, he chose to take the bus back to his residence with fellow cardinals rather than use the papal limousine.
Francis’ deep sense of compassion is reflected in his care for the poor and marginalized. He has opened the Vatican’s doors to the homeless, inviting them to special events and providing them with meals. In one of his most famous gestures, it is reported he invited 1,500 homeless individuals to the Vatican for a pizza party for his birthday.
His focus on social justice and inclusion was also evident when he ordered an audit of the Vatican’s finances, calling for greater transparency and accountability, and encouraged the clergy to live more simply. He has said the Church should be “like a field hospital” for the world’s suffering and damaged.
Francis has made a special effort to reach out to the world’s poor, giving out hundreds of sleeping bags to homeless people and offering private tours of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel for those without homes. His love for children is also well known, having written a children’s book titled Dear Pope Francis and inviting children to join him for a ride in the Popemobile.
Pope Francis is also a believer in women’s contributions to society, calling them “Builders of Humanity,” and stating, “Women, in fact, with their unique capacity for compassion, their intuitiveness, and their connatural inclination to care are able, in an outstanding way, to be for society both ‘intelligence and a heart that loves and unites,’ to bring love where love is lacking and humanity where human beings are searching to find their true identity.”
The Evangelizing Pope
Pope Francis’ papacy has been marked by a deep commitment to mission. As the first Jesuit pope, he has emphasized reaching out to the peripheries—those on the margins of society—and to those who have been forgotten by the church and society. This focus on mission has led to several landmark moments, including his participation in the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, which invited the world to reflect on God’s mercy and embrace of the marginalized.
His commitment to spreading the Gospel has extended beyond traditional means, utilizing modern technology to connect with the faithful. He became the first pope to have an Instagram account, which quickly gained millions of followers. He also embraced Twitter (now X), amassing over 31 million followers and using the platform to reach a global audience. He famously called the internet a “gift from God,” viewing it as a powerful tool for evangelization.
Through initiatives like the Synod on the Amazon, Pope Francis has sought to address the pressing issues of climate change, indigenous rights, and the pastoral needs of the faithful in remote areas. His call for ecological responsibility culminated in the encyclical Laudato si’, in which he urges the faithful and all people of goodwill to protect the environment and care for creation.
Pope Francis’ emphasis on mercy and care for the marginalized extends to his approach to controversial issues within the Church. He has consistently shown compassion toward those often excluded, including LGBTQ+ individuals, remarking that, “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him?” This spirit of inclusion and understanding has been central to his pontificate.
A Life of Service and Joy
Despite the immense responsibilities of being pope, Francis has not lost his sense of joy. A lifelong fan of soccer, he supports San Lorenzo, an Argentine soccer club, and has shared his love of tango dancing. His personal quirks—like riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle, which he later auctioned for charity, or donning a clown nose for a charity event—have endeared him to people worldwide.
Pope Francis’ ability to connect with ordinary people and his genuine interest in their lives have made him a beloved figure both within the Church and outside of it. His unpretentious manner, his deep spirituality, and his commitment to the teachings of Jesus Christ have inspired millions around the world.
The Legacy of Pope Francis
As the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope in history, Pope Francis has shaped the Church in profound ways. His papacy has called for greater inclusivity, humility, and a return to the Church’s foundational mission of love and service. Through “The Francis Effect,” he has inspired countless individuals to deepen their faith and their commitment to social justice.
His actions and words, whether in his support for refugees or his efforts to modernize the Church, have resonated deeply with people of all walks of life. Pope Francis has shown the world what it means to live the Gospel with humility, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the poor and marginalized.
In this ongoing journey, Pope Francis remains a steadfast reminder that the call to serve and love one another is timeless—and that a humble heart is often the most powerful force for change in the world.
Pope Francis was recently hospitalized with bronchitis and pneumonia but has been released and is back home in the Vatican as of March 25, 2025.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (fourth boy from the left in the third row from the top) at age 12, Salesian College (c. 1948–1949). Photo by Colegio Salesiano Don Bosco de Ramos Mejía - Anuario Colegio Don Bosco, Public Domain.