Pope Francis

Pope Francis is the first pope to be elected from the Jesuit order and the first Pope from South America and the Southern Hemisphere. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, a patron of the poor. Pope Francis has been noted for his humility, emphasis on mercy, concern for the poor, and commitment to interfaith dialogue. The Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine under his Papacy. Pope Francis also played a vital role in restoring full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba.

He has made climate and the environment a central focus of his papacy. In 2015, Francis released “Laudato Si,” a major papal document in which he urged the world to take climate change seriously and to cut back on material waste and consumption-centered lifestyles. Francis describes the earth as mistreated and abused and urges “everyone—individuals, families, local communities, nations, and the international community—to listen to its groans.”