Remembering the Election That Changed the Church: Pope Francis’ Historic Rise

Pope Francis, elected in March 2013, made history as the first South American pope and a non-European leader in over 1,200 years. His leadership has signified a shift towards the majority of the world's Catholic population located in the global south, addressing significant challenges within the Church.

Pope Francis, who assumed the papacy in March 2013, has been a transformative figure in the Roman Catholic Church. As Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, he marked a pivotal moment in history by becoming the 266th pope, the first from South America. This was a landmark choice as he was also the first non-European pontiff in over a millennium and the first Jesuit to lead the church.

His election, viewed as a signal for the future direction of the Church, highlighted the growing Catholic presence in the global south. Born to Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Francis embodied humility and advocated for the underprivileged, leading a life of simplicity in the Argentine capital. He took charge of a Church facing several daunting issues, including dwindling priest numbers, increasing competition from evangelical groups, a pervasive sexual abuse scandal that damaged its standing, and the ongoing governance struggles within the Vatican.

The conclave that led to his election convened after a thorough deliberation among the cardinals, who carefully considered the enormous hurdles confronting the Church. “The pope’s election is something substantially different from a political election,” observed Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna at the time, highlighting that this role transcends corporate leadership and aims to serve a spiritual community.

Rachel Donadio, who served as the Rome bureau chief between 2008 and 2013, chronicled these historic developments closely.