March 13, 2013. It was drizzling in St. Peter’s Square. The white smoke billowed, and then out came a man who didn’t look like a king. He looked like a guy you'd see on a bus in Buenos Aires. Honestly, he basically was. Before becoming the first Latin American pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was known for taking the subway and cooking his own meals.
When he stood on that balcony and just said, "Good evening," the world felt a shift. It wasn't the usual stiff, regal greeting. It was the start of a decade-plus of "shaking things up," a phrase he uses often. But as we look at pope francis through the years, the narrative has gotten kinda messy. People see him as a radical liberal, a secret Marxist, or a traditionalist in disguise. The truth is way more complex.
The Early Years: The "Who Am I to Judge" Era
The first couple of years were a whirlwind. You had the famous flight back from Rio de Janeiro in 2013 where he dropped the "Who am I to judge?" line regarding gay priests. That five-word quote basically exploded the internet. But if you actually read the transcript, he wasn't changing doctrine. He was talking about mercy.
He moved out of the fancy Apostolic Palace and into a small suite in the Casa Santa Marta guesthouse. He wanted to eat lunch with regular people. This wasn't just for show. It was a signal. He was tired of the "clericalism"—that's a word he hates—where priests act like they're better than everyone else.
In 2015, he released Laudato Si’. This was a massive deal. It was an encyclical (a big-deal church letter) entirely about the environment. He didn't just talk about trees; he tied it to the poor. He argued that the "throwaway culture" that makes us toss out old iPhones is the same culture that ignores the elderly and the homeless.
Reforming the Money and the Machine
If you think being Pope is all about praying and waving, you've got to look at the Vatican Bank. For decades, it was a mess of scandals and "shady" accounts. Francis brought in outside auditors. He fired people. He created the Secretariat for the Economy in 2014 to keep a closer eye on the cash.
The "Praedicate Evangelium" Shakeup
By 2022, he released a new constitution for the Vatican called Praedicate Evangelium. Basically, he reorganized the entire management structure.
- He made it so laypeople—even women—could lead major Vatican departments.
- He merged offices to stop them from wasting money.
- He prioritized "Evangelization" over "Doctrine."
This ruffled feathers. A lot of them. Some traditionalists felt he was stripping the Church of its mystery and authority.
The Middle Years: Diplomacy and "Peripheral" Travel
Francis has a weird travel strategy. He mostly ignores the big, powerful Catholic countries like France or the US for his first visits. Instead, he goes to the "peripheries."
Think back to 2014 when he visited Albania, a tiny country with a brutal history of atheism. Or 2021, when he went to Iraq—the first Pope ever to do that—and met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. He’s obsessed with building bridges with Islam. In 2019, he signed the "Document on Human Fraternity" in Abu Dhabi. It was a historic move toward peace between Christians and Muslims, though some hardliners in both camps weren't happy.
And then there’s China. In 2018, the Vatican reached a "secret" deal with Beijing about how bishops are appointed. It’s controversial. Critics say he sold out the underground Church to a communist government. The Vatican says it’s the only way to keep the Church alive there.
The Recent Years: Health Scares and Hard Decisions
As we move closer to the present day, the pace has slowed but the intensity hasn't. You've probably seen the photos of him in a wheelchair or using a cane. He's had intestinal surgery, chronic knee pain, and several bouts of bronchitis.
In early 2025, things got scary. He was hospitalized at the Gemelli Hospital with double pneumonia and multiple infections. For weeks, the world waited. At 88 years old, every breath he took was news. He eventually recovered, but he’s clearly more "frail" now.
The "Fiducia Supplicans" Firestorm
In late 2023, he approved Fiducia Supplicans. This document allowed priests to give "non-liturgical" blessings to couples in "irregular situations," including same-sex couples.
Honestly? It was a PR disaster for the Church.
Progressives thought it didn't go far enough. Conservatives thought it was heresy.
Francis had to clarify: "The Lord blesses everyone." He argued that a blessing isn't a marriage; it's a prayer for help. Still, several bishops' conferences, especially in Africa, flat-out refused to do it. It showed just how divided the global Church has become.
What People Get Wrong About Pope Francis
Most people think Francis is a liberal who wants to change everything. That's not quite right. On the "big" issues—abortion, women priests, the definition of marriage—he hasn't moved an inch. He's still very much a traditional Catholic.
What's changed is the emphasis.
He thinks the Church should be like a "field hospital" after a battle. You don't ask a bleeding man for his cholesterol levels; you fix the wound. He wants a Church that is messy, out on the streets, and focused on mercy rather than rules.
Looking Ahead: The Jubilee and Beyond
Right now, in 2026, the Vatican is wrapping up the "Jubilee of Hope." Millions of pilgrims have flooded Rome. It’s a huge logistical nightmare but a massive spiritual moment for his followers.
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As we track pope francis through the years, the legacy is starting to crystallize. He didn't change the laws; he changed the vibe. He forced the Church to look at the climate, the poor, and the migrant. Whether he stays in office or follows Benedict XVI’s lead and resigns, he has permanently shifted the Vatican's gaze away from Europe and toward the rest of the world.
How to Stay Updated on the Papacy
If you're trying to keep up with what's actually happening in Rome without the media spin, here's what you should do:
- Check the sources directly. Read the actual text of documents like Laudate Deum or Fratelli Tutti on the Vatican website. Most headlines are misleading.
- Follow local diocesan news. National outlets often focus on the politics; local Catholic news gives you a better sense of how these "Vatican shifts" are hitting the ground.
- Watch the Synod process. The ongoing "Synod on Synodality" is where the actual future of the Church is being debated. It’s a long, boring process, but it’s where the power is shifting.
He's an old man in a white robe trying to steer a ship with 1.3 billion passengers. It was never going to be a smooth ride.