Pope Francis Biography: Death, Age, Successor, Key Facts

Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, died on 21 April 2025 at age 88, closing a 12‑year pontificate defined by humility, reform, and a focus on the poor. This biography draws on the official Vatican biography, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and other authoritative sources to answer the most common questions about his life, death, and legacy.

Last checked: 2026-07-23

Real name: Jorge Mario Bergoglio · Born: 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina · Elected pope: 13 March 2013 · Died: 21 April 2025 (aged 88) at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City

Pope Francis’ wife

Pope Francis never married. As a Catholic priest and later bishop, cardinal, and pope, he took a vow of celibacy, a requirement for Latin‑rite priests in the Roman Catholic Church. Before entering religious life, there is no record in any authoritative biography — including the Vatican’s official biography — of Bergoglio having married or fathered children.

During his papacy, Francis spoke about the importance of women in the church and society, but always within the framework of Catholic teaching on priesthood and celibacy.

The bottom line: Pope Francis was a lifelong celibate priest, consistent with the discipline of the Latin Catholic Church.

Pope Francis name

Pope Francis’ real name at birth was Jorge Mario Bergoglio. He was born to Italian immigrant parents in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December 1936, according to the Vatican biography. Upon his election as pope on 13 March 2013, he chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th‑century Italian saint known for his simplicity, poverty, and care for creation.

It was the first time a pope had taken the name Francis. The choice immediately signaled his pastoral priorities: a “poor church for the poor,” as he described it. Britannica notes that from his first public appearance — wearing a simple white cassock and greeting St. Peter’s Square with “Buona sera” — he inspired Catholics worldwide.

Why did he choose the name Francis?

Francis later explained that during the conclave, Cardinal Claudio Hummes of Brazil embraced him and said, “Don’t forget the poor.” That remark, combined with his devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, guided his choice.

What this means: The name was a deliberate, early statement of intent about the kind of pontificate he intended to lead, centered on humility and service to the marginalized.

Pope Francis cause of death

Pope Francis died on 21 April 2025 at age 88, bringing his 12‑year pontificate to a close. The Vatican reported that he died at 7:35 a.m. on Easter Monday at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (Casa Santa Marta) residence in Vatican City. The specific cause of death has not been detailed in official sources beyond his advanced age. Throughout his later years, Francis had used a wheelchair due to knee pain and sciatica, and he had part of one lung removed as a young man after an infection.

His final months were marked by increasing frailty, though he continued to work and receive visitors until days before his death.

The pattern: Francis’ death at 88, while not from a sudden illness, followed several years of declining mobility and energy consistent with his age.

Pope Francis successor

As of the time of writing, no successor to Pope Francis has been elected. The process for selecting the next pope follows the rules of a papal conclave: the College of Cardinals, composed of cardinals under age 80, gathers in the Sistine Chapel to vote. A two‑thirds majority is required for election.

Francis’ death on 21 April 2025 triggered the period known as sede vacante (the vacant see), during which the camerlengo oversees Vatican affairs until a new pope is chosen. Historically, conclaves have lasted from a few days to several weeks. The most recent conclave, in 2013 that elected Francis, took two days.

Who might be elected?

While no frontrunner is formally identified in public, cardinals from regions with large Catholic populations — including Africa, Asia, and Latin America — have been mentioned in media speculation. Francis’ reforms to the Roman Curia and his emphasis on synodality may influence the type of candidate cardinals select.

What to watch: The next pope will inherit a church shaped by Francis’ 12 years of reform and a global Catholicism that increasingly reflects the Global South.

Key facts table

Alternatives in set: How Pope Francis compares with recent popes

To understand Francis’ unique place in modern church history, it helps to compare him with his two immediate predecessors: John Paul II (reigned 1978–2005) and Benedict XVI (2005–2013).

Francis’ style and priorities differed markedly from Benedict’s. Where Benedict emphasized continuity with tradition, doctrinal precision, and curial governance, Francis adopted an informal, outward‑facing approach and an agenda centered on the peripheries. The New York Times described him as a “reform‑minded, sometimes divisive figure whose push for inclusion and pastoral flexibility met resistance among some conservative Catholics.”

The trade‑off: Francis gained global admiration for his humility and attention to the poor, but his efforts to make the church more welcoming to LGBTQ people and divorced Catholics drew sharp criticism from traditionalists.

Timeline: Pope Francis’ life and pontificate

• 17 December 1936: Jorge Mario Bergoglio born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrant parents.
• 1958: Enters the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
• 13 December 1969: Ordained a Catholic priest.
• 1973–1979: Serves as provincial superior of the Jesuits in Argentina during the country’s military dictatorship.
• 20 May 1992: Appointed auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires.
• 1998: Becomes archbishop of Buenos Aires.
• 21 February 2001: Created cardinal by Pope John Paul II.
• 13 March 2013: Elected 266th pope; chooses the name Francis.
• 24 May 2015: Issues encyclical Laudato si’, a landmark Catholic text on the environment.
• 8 December 2015 – 20 November 2016: Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.
• 21 April 2025: Dies at age 88 at Casa Santa Marta, Vatican City.

“He shaped the church from the outset of his papacy according to his vision of “a poor church for the poor.””

– Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, Reference work editors

“From his first public appearance as pope—during which he wore a simple white cassock and greeted the well‑wishers who had gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City with the words “Buona sera” (“Good evening”)—Francis inspired and fascinated Catholics around the world.”

– Encyclopaedia Britannica editors, Reference work editors

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Frequently asked questions

Sources cited

• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Summary of Pope Francis
• Biography.com – Pope Francis biography
• Catholic News Agency – Timeline of Pope Francis
• PBS NewsHour – A timeline of Pope Francis’ life