Margherita Stancati

He was the first pope from the Jesuit order and the first pope to take the name Francis. And he took that name after St. Francis of Assisi, who was a medieval saint who famously renounced his wealth and embraced a life of poverty. And that is a message that Pope Francis wanted to give at the outset of his papacy and that he stayed true throughout his reign.

After he became Pope, he decided to drive around in a simple car and afford focus. He refused to live in the luxurious apostolic palace, instead choosing a modest apartment in the Vatican's guest house. And he always made a point of spending time with the poor, with the homeless, and even with prison inmates.

After he became Pope, he decided to drive around in a simple car and afford focus. He refused to live in the luxurious apostolic palace, instead choosing a modest apartment in the Vatican's guest house. And he always made a point of spending time with the poor, with the homeless, and even with prison inmates.

After he became Pope, he decided to drive around in a simple car and afford focus. He refused to live in the luxurious apostolic palace, instead choosing a modest apartment in the Vatican's guest house. And he always made a point of spending time with the poor, with the homeless, and even with prison inmates.

Pope Francis washing the feet of 12 women prisoners.

Pope Francis washing the feet of 12 women prisoners.

Pope Francis washing the feet of 12 women prisoners.

He was much more informal and he adopted much more lenient positions on issues that ranged from homosexuality to contraception to divorce.

He was much more informal and he adopted much more lenient positions on issues that ranged from homosexuality to contraception to divorce.

He was much more informal and he adopted much more lenient positions on issues that ranged from homosexuality to contraception to divorce.

He did show greater openness towards the LGBTQ community. And that was something that really displeased more conservative Catholics. Just today, a group that advocates for LGBTQ Catholics said that Pope Francis had been a gift to the church and to the LGBTQ plus community. But he was still the head of the Catholic Church, which was still conservative.

He did show greater openness towards the LGBTQ community. And that was something that really displeased more conservative Catholics. Just today, a group that advocates for LGBTQ Catholics said that Pope Francis had been a gift to the church and to the LGBTQ plus community. But he was still the head of the Catholic Church, which was still conservative.

He did show greater openness towards the LGBTQ community. And that was something that really displeased more conservative Catholics. Just today, a group that advocates for LGBTQ Catholics said that Pope Francis had been a gift to the church and to the LGBTQ plus community. But he was still the head of the Catholic Church, which was still conservative.

He was quite critical, for example, of what he called gender ideology. So he was progressive within the framework of the Catholic Church, but he was still the pope.

He was quite critical, for example, of what he called gender ideology. So he was progressive within the framework of the Catholic Church, but he was still the pope.

He was quite critical, for example, of what he called gender ideology. So he was progressive within the framework of the Catholic Church, but he was still the pope.

He was also very outspoken. He criticized global capitalism. He spoke against wars. In his most recent address yesterday, he called for an end to conflicts in Gaza, in Ukraine, and in Sudan. He criticized governments for taking a hard line on immigration and has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over this. He was especially critical of these kind of large scale deportations.

He was also very outspoken. He criticized global capitalism. He spoke against wars. In his most recent address yesterday, he called for an end to conflicts in Gaza, in Ukraine, and in Sudan. He criticized governments for taking a hard line on immigration and has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over this. He was especially critical of these kind of large scale deportations.

He was also very outspoken. He criticized global capitalism. He spoke against wars. In his most recent address yesterday, he called for an end to conflicts in Gaza, in Ukraine, and in Sudan. He criticized governments for taking a hard line on immigration and has repeatedly clashed with the Trump administration over this. He was especially critical of these kind of large scale deportations.

And is that unusual for a pope to speak out in this way? I think popes have weighed in on current affairs for a long time. Pope Francis was definitely not shy about it. He spoke out his mind and he very often weighed in on political affairs. And for example, he also called on political leaders to reduce carbon emissions and to combat climate change.