On the 21st (local time), Pope Francis, who passed away, was the first non-European pope and led 1.4 billion Catholic believers for about 12 years since his inauguration in 2013. Pope Francis, who is from Argentina, was the first South American in the 2000-year history of the Catholic Church and the first non-European pope in 1282 years.
Pope Francis was born in December 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to an Italian immigrant family. His birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. After joining the Jesuits, he served as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina's largest archdiocese, before being elected pope.
Before his inauguration, he lived among the poor and common people his whole life, personally practicing the Gospel, and was called 'the father of the poor.' During his time as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he demonstrated a simple lifestyle by living in a small, shabby apartment instead of an official residence.
After his inauguration, he maintained his simple lifestyle. Unlike previous popes who changed their attire upon taking office, Pope Francis wore the pectoral cross and black shoes he used during his time as a cardinal. He also refused the exclusive accommodations in the Vatican and has been staying in the guesthouse 'Casa Santa Marta,' where he resided during past visits to Rome.
The pope has particularly worked to embrace social minorities and break free from the church's authoritarian practices. His remark shortly after his inauguration, 'Who am I to judge?' regarding the recognition of homosexual believers clearly showcased his reformist tendencies. He also stated in an interview with a media outlet in August 2023, 'Transgender people are also children of God.'
He was also proactive in reforming the Vatican. From his first days in office, he entrusted the Vatican's finances to be audited externally and took the lead in financial transparency, such as having the Rome diocese undergo financial audits in 2021. These reforms led to clashes with established interests in the Vatican, resulting in the resignations of several officials appointed by the pope.
The pope also has a connection to Korea. The pope visited Korea in 2014, the year following his inauguration, and appointed Cardinal Yoo Heung-sik, who is from Korea, as the Minister of Clergy.