Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis on March 13, 2013, following the historic resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Stepping out onto the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, he greeted the world with a simple buona sera rather than traditional formal Latin greetings. He broke centuries of tradition immediately: he was the first Latin American pope, the first Jesuit pope, and the first pontiff to choose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. His election marked an abrupt pivot in the global posture of the Roman Catholic Church, shifting institutional focus away from doctrinal gatekeeping toward pastoral mercy, economic justice, and environmental stewardship.
The papacy of Francis altered how the Vatican interacts with modern secular culture, internal governance, and marginalized groups. While he didn't rewrite core dogmas, his tone, lifestyle choices, and structural reforms reshaped institutional priorities. Understanding his tenure requires looking closely at how the Vatican functioned before 2013 and what concrete shifts occurred during his twelve-year pontificate.
The Conclave of 2013 and the Rise of Jorge Bergoglio
The path to his election began on February 28, 2013, when Benedict XVI stepped down—the first pope to resign voluntarily since Celestine V in 1294. The subsequent conclave faced mounting pressure to address internal Vatican scandals, bureaucratic inefficiency, and a perceived disconnect between Rome and the global Catholic flock, the majority of whom now lived in the Global South.
On the second day of voting, after five ballots, white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Bergoglio secured the necessary two-thirds majority. Choosing the name Francis signaled a direct commitment to a church that championed the poor, lived modestly, and cared for creation. He bypassed the apostolic palace, opting to live in the modest Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse instead of the papal apartments, setting an immediate tone of personal austerity.
Structural and Financial Reforms in the Roman Curia
One of the most pressing mandates facing the new pope was reforming the Roman Curia, the central governing body of the church. Decades of administrative bloop, opacity, and financial scandals plagued the Vatican Bank (known formally as the Institute for the Works of Religion).
- Financial Transparency: Francis appointed international auditors, centralized financial control under a new Secretariat for the Economy, and enacted strict anti-money laundering laws to bring Vatican accounts in line with international standards.
- Curial Decentralization: He issued the apostolic constitution Praedicate evangelium in 2022, which overhauled the Curia. It elevated evangelization above administrative routine and opened top Vatican departments to lay Catholics and women, breaking the long-standing clerical monopoly on high-level governance.
- Combating Corruption: He stripped the Secretariat of State of its independent investment funds and real estate holdings, transferring them to central asset management overseen by external watchdogs.
Shifts in Pastoral Tone and Social Teachings
Francis transformed the rhetoric of the papacy. He famously responded "who am I to judge?" when asked about gay priests early in his term, shifting the immediate public branding of the church from condemnation to dialogue.
His encyclicals focused heavily on systemic global crises. Laudato si', published in 2015, reframed climate change and environmental degradation as moral and spiritual crises, urging rapid transitions away from fossil fuels and consumerist excess. His 2020 encyclical, Fratelli tutti, emphasized human fraternity, criticizing nationalism, modern economic exclusion, and the ethics of war.
On family life, his 2016 exhortation Amoris laetitia encouraged local pastors to exercise discernment regarding divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, opening a path for them to receive communion under specific internal guidance—a move that sparked intense debate among traditionalist cardinals. Later, in 2023, the Vatican issued Fiducia supplicans, formally allowing priests to offer non-liturgical blessings to same-sex couples, provided it did not confuse the sacrament of marriage.
Accountability and the Clergy Abuse Crisis
The shadow of clergy sexual abuse and institutional cover-ups remained a defining challenge throughout his tenure. Critics initially accused him of slow responses, notably during a 2018 visit to Chile, but he subsequently enacted aggressive structural changes.
- Abolishing Pontifical Secrecy: In 2019, Francis officially lifted the rule of pontifical secrecy for cases of sexual abuse and violence, making it easier for church authorities to cooperate with civil law enforcement agencies.
- Mandatory Reporting: He issued the Vos estis lux mundi motu proprio, legally requiring all clergy and religious globally to report abuse or cover-ups immediately to church authorities and establishing accessible reporting channels.
- Direct Penalties: He removed several high-ranking bishops and cardinals implicated in negligence or direct abuse, demonstrating a willingness to discipline senior hierarchy that previous administrations often avoided.
Common Misconceptions About His Papacy
Public media coverage often mischaracterized Francis as a theological revolutionary who sought to overturn traditional church dogma. In reality, his theology remained deeply rooted in traditional Catholic doctrine, particularly regarding abortion, artificial contraception, and the male-only priesthood.
Another common error is assuming he acted as an absolute monarch within the Vatican. Francis frequently encountered fierce institutional pushback from entrenched traditionalist factions within the Curia and various global dioceses, meaning his reforms were often heavily negotiated, delayed, or implemented unevenly across different continents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Jorge Mario Bergoglio's background before becoming pope?
Before his election, he served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires and was elevated to cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. Born to Italian immigrant parents in Argentina, he worked briefly as a chemical technician before entering the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1958.
Did Pope Francis change Catholic doctrine on marriage and divorce?
No. Church doctrine regarding the sacramental permanence of marriage remained unchanged. However, Francis altered pastoral practice by encouraging priests to evaluate complex personal situations individually, allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to participate more fully in church life and sacraments under specific pastoral guidance.
Why did Pope Francis choose the name Francis?
He chose the name in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, explaining that the saint represents poverty, peace, and protection of creation. This choice telegraphed his desire for a humble church that stands in direct solidarity with the poor and vulnerable.
How did the governance of Vatican City change under his leadership?
He centralized financial oversight, dismantled old bureaucratic fiefdoms, invited lay experts and women into leadership roles within the Roman Curia, and prioritized transparency to clean up the reputation of the Vatican financial system.
When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis This video archive provides a look back at the historical events surrounding the election of Pope Francis in March 2013.
