Jorge Mario Bergoglio was appointed Pope Francis in 2013, and with this, the world quickly saw that he was not your typical pope. From the start, he made it clear that he wanted a simpler, humbler Church—one that served the poor, welcomed the outcast, and wasn’t afraid to speak up on global issues. Choosing the name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, was our first clue: this was going to be a papacy with a heart.

One of the most defining parts of Pope Francis’s legacy was his deep concern for the poor and vulnerable. He’s spent time in slums, refugee camps, and war-torn regions—not for publicity, but to remind the world that these lives matter. He spoke often about the need to put people before profit and challenged the global economy to care for human dignity, not just wealth.

Another huge part of his mission has been protecting the planet. In his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, he called out climate change as not just a science issue, but a moral one. He stressed how the environment and poverty are connected and urged everyone—religious or not—to work together to save our common home. That message has made him a respected voice well beyond Church walls.

Pope Francis has also taken on the massive task of reforming the Vatican. He’s worked to clean up financial corruption and bring more transparency into the inner workings of the Church. It hasn’t been easy, and there’s been pushback, but he’s managed to shift focus toward integrity and accountability.

Social issues were handled with more warmth than judgment. While he hasn’t changed official Church teachings on topics like same-sex marriage or women’s roles in the Church, his tone has been far more inclusive. His now-famous “Who am I to judge?”, showed the world a more compassionate side of the Church that many had been missing.

What made Pope Francis especially unique was his ability to connect with people of all backgrounds. He’s built bridges with leaders of other religions, shown support for migrants and refugees, and constantly reminds us that faith isn’t about rules—it’s about love, service, and mercy. What’s undeniable is that he’s made the Church feel more open, more human, and more present in the real struggles of the world.

Pope Francis brought a new spirit to the Church—one rooted in humility, justice, and care for both people and the planet. That, in itself, is a legacy worth remembering.