Ten things to remember about Francis ‘the people’s Pope’

We have taken time to curate 10 striking things to remember about ‘the people’s Pope’ as we reminisce on the life and time of Pope Francis, who until the early hours of today Monday April 21, 2025, was the head of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936, is the first Latin American to lead the Roman Catholic Church.

The Pontiff, who is also known as ‘the people’s Pope’, is also the first pope from the Western Hemisphere, the first from South America, the first from the Jesuit order and the first to take the name Francis.

The Jesuit order is a tradition of Catholicism centered on missionary work, education, and theological scholarship.

As the 266th pope, he became the first non-European pope since Gregory III, who was born in modern-day Syria and elected in 731.

The Pope chose the name Francis in honour of St. Francis of Assisi, a 13th-century monk known for his charity and kindness to animals, was rumored to have been the runner-up in 2005, losing that papal election to Benedict XVI.

Read also: Pope Francis has died, says Vatican in video statement

Pope Benedict XVI had stepped down as supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church on February 11, 2013, after eight years as Papal. However, on March 13, 2013 (seventeen days later), Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis) was elected supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church.

He then became the bishop of Rome, vicar of Jesus Christ, successor of the prince of the Apostles, supreme pontiff of the Universal Church, primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, and sovereign of the state of Vatican City.

Here are 10 things to remember about ‘the people’s Pope’
He is regarded as ‘the people’s Pope’

Being regarded as the ‘people’s pope’ is one of the striking thing to remember about Pope Francis who was the first pope to be honored as ‘Person of the Year’. As the head of the Roman Catholic Church he enjoys stopping to bless children during ceremonies, visiting the sick, and advocating for the less fortunate; just as he continually advocated for a world free of war, which are a few of the reasons he’s known as ‘the people’s pope’ — and why he was the first pope ever named Person of the Year by Time in 2013.

He lived life with one lung for over 50 years

Pope Francis lived the better part of his adult life with one lung after losing part of his lung during his childhood due to a respiratory infection.

He is a social media friendly pope

Pope Francis was also social media friendly as a pontiff with has 53 million followers on Twitter, and 9 million on IG. With nine accounts in different languages, the Pope is active in the social media world – his English twitter account alone has more than 18.9 million followers, while 9 million people follow the pope on Instagram; in all, accounting for 53 million followers on social media.

He supports and promotes women in ministry

As the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis supports and promotes gender equality. Except for the sacrament of the priesthood, the Pope helps in empowering women by appointing them to managerial roles in the Vatican. There are now 1,165 women compared to 320 ten years ago. Recently, he appointed three women to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops while another two to the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology and the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

He turned down the fancy apartment and pops out of the Vatican

Pope Francis turned down fancy apartment even though the popes usually reside in more upscale quarters (a tradition that has lasted almost a century), Pope Francis opted for a simple two-room apartment instead. He also sneaks out of the Vatican from time to time, not being mindful of his ecclesial status.

He refused to wear the signature red shoes

Pope Francis refused the ermine-trimmed red velvet mozzetta, the gold pectoral cross and the pair of red shoes prepared for him after he emerged as the Pope. He instead kept his simple silver cross and well-worn black shoes. He is also known for his noble saint’s lifestyle and spirituality: poverty and simplicity. “How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor.”

Read also: After a Pope dies, here is the sequence of what happens next

He was once a teacher

Pope Francis taught literature and psychology at Immaculate Conception College in Santa Fé from 1964 to1965, and then a year later, he taught the same subjects at the Colegio del Salvatore in Buenos Aires. He also earned a doctorate theology in Freiburg, Germany in 1986.

He loves Tango

Austen Ivereigh, in a biography of Pope Francis entitled ‘The Great Reformer,’ mentions that the Pope is a great tango dancer. In 2010, the Pope said, “Tango comes from deep within me.”

He once worked as a bouncer at a nightclub

Before becoming the pontiff, Pope Francis took some odd jobs including being a bouncer, a doorman or someone that kicks out troublemakers out of nightclubs. He also worked as a sweeper, working in a chemical job and teaching high school.

He nearly became pope in 2005

After the death of Pope John Paul II, Jorge Bergoglio (as Pope Francis was known then) reportedly received the second-most votes in the papal conclave. But was Pope Benedict XVI (aka Joseph Ratzinger) who was the winner.