Pope 266
Francis
The 266th pope in the Holy See's list of Supreme Pontiffs, serving as Bishop of Rome from 13, 19.III.2013 to 21.IV.2025. His secular name is listed as Jorge Mario Bergoglio. The Holy See lists his birthplace as Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Why this pontificate matters
Francis sits in the visible present of global Catholic life: reform language, pastoral emphasis, synodality, and intense public interpretation. The page should stay factual and source-led because living-memory assessments change quickly.
Recent pontificates need a lighter editorial hand than medieval ones.
The site should separate official dates from interpretation, especially for living-memory history.
Predecessor
- Benedict XVI · succeeded in see · documented
Francis follows Benedict XVI as Bishop of Rome in the Holy See's sequential list of Supreme Pontiffs.
Successor
- Leo XIV · succeeded in see · documented
Leo XIV follows Francis as Bishop of Rome in the Holy See's sequential list of Supreme Pontiffs.