Challenges in the Life of Pope Francis in a Detailed Timeline
Life is full of challenges, and Pope Francis faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Pope Francis is the current head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City. Notably, he is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born outside of Europe since the 8th century. His papacy has focused on themes of mercy, social justice, environmental stewardship, and interreligious dialogue, often emphasizing outreach to marginalized communities and advocating for global solutions to poverty and inequality.
1976: Allegations regarding kidnapping of Jesuit priests
In 1976, Bergoglio faced allegations regarding the Argentine Navy's kidnapping of two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics, during Argentina's Dirty War. He feared for their safety and attempted to change their work prior to their arrest.
1976: Early Image of the Military Junta
In early 1976, the military junta still had a good image among society, and that the scale of the political repression was not known until much later. This could explain why Bergoglio would have had little reason to suspect that the detention of Yorio and Jalics could end in their deaths.
1980: Nobel Peace Prize laureate's statement on Bergoglio's role during the dictatorship
In 1980, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, commented on Bergoglio's role during the Dirty War, stating that while Bergoglio may not have had the courage of other priests, he never collaborated with the dictatorship.
1984: Investigation Ordered into San Patricio Church Massacre
In 1984 testimony indicated that the murders of the Pallottine community in the San Patricio Church massacre were perpetrated by members of the Argentine Navy on the orders of Rear Admiral Rubén Chamorro. Bergoglio also ordered an investigation into the murders.
1986: Replaced at San Miguel
In 1986, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was replaced as rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel, at the discretion of Jesuit superior-general Peter Hans Kolvenbach.
1992: Asked not to live in Jesuit residences
In 1992, Jesuit authorities asked Bergoglio not to live in Jesuit residences due to tensions and concerns over his views.
1999: Yorio's accusations against Bergoglio
In a 1999 interview, Yorio accused Bergoglio of effectively handing him and Franz Jalics over to the death squads by declining to tell the authorities that he endorsed their work. Yorio stated that he believed Bergoglio did nothing to free them.
2000: Appointment of McCarrick as Archbishop
In 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed Theodore McCarrick as archbishop, despite multiple reports of sexual abuse allegations against him. The 2000 appointment was later found to be a significant error in judgment.
December 2001: Led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots
In December 2001, Jorge Mario Bergoglio led the Argentine Church during the December 2001 riots in Argentina.
December 2001: Contact with Ministry of the Interior during riots
In December 2001, during police repression of riots in Argentina, Bergoglio contacted the Ministry of the Interior. He requested that the police distinguish between rioters and vandals from peaceful protesters during the events.
2005: Criminal complaint filed against Bergoglio
In 2005, Myriam Bregman, a human rights lawyer, filed a criminal complaint against Bergoglio, accusing him of involvement in the 1976 kidnapping of two Jesuit priests, Orlando Yorio and Franz Jalics. The complaint was later dismissed.
2008: Called for national reconciliation during disturbances
In 2008, Bergoglio called for national reconciliation during disturbances in Argentina's agricultural regions, which the government interpreted as support for anti-government demonstrators.
2010: Cardinal Bergoglio Commissioned a Study
In 2010 then-Cardinal Bergoglio commissioned a study which concluded that Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse, was innocent, that his victims were lying, and that the case against him never should have gone to trial.
2010: Opposition to Same-Sex Marriage in Argentina
While serving as Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Bergoglio led public opposition to the parliamentary bill on legalizing same-sex marriage in Argentina, which was eventually approved by the Argentine Senate in 2010. The church source called the letter a strategic error that contributed to the bill's success. The opposition in 2010 was a notable stance before his papacy.
2012: Defrocking of Mauro Inzoli
In 2012 Mauro Inzoli, an Italian priest accused of child sexual abuse, was defrocked by Francis's predecessor Benedict.
2012: Vatican opinion on the sisters' group
In 2012 the Vatican formed the opinion that the sisters' group had some feminist influences, focused too much on ending social and economic injustice and not enough on stopping abortion, and permitted speakers who questioned church doctrine.
2013: Reaffirmed programme to reform the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious
In 2013, Francis initially reaffirmed the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's programme to reform the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious which had been initiated under Pope Benedict XVI.
January 2014: Restriction on Monsignor Titles Announced
In January 2014, Pope Francis announced that he would appoint fewer monsignors and would only assign the title to the lowest of the three surviving ranks, chaplain of His Holiness, awarded only to diocesan priests at least 65 years old.
January 2014: Vatican Bank Cardinal Overseers Replaced
In January 2014, Pope Francis replaced four of the five cardinal overseers of the Vatican Bank, who had been confirmed in their positions during the final days of Benedict XVI's papacy, as part of ongoing efforts to reform the bank and address allegations of corruption.
2014: Reversal of Defrocking Decision for Mauro Inzoli
In 2014, Pope Francis reversed the defrocking of Mauro Inzoli, an Italian priest accused of child sexual abuse, agreeing that Inzoli should remain a priest but be removed from public ministry and ordered to retire to "a life of prayer and humble discretion".
April 2015: Investigation brought to a close
In April 2015 the investigation into the U.S. Leadership Conference of Women Religious was brought to a close.
September 2015: Meeting with Kim Davis
In September 2015, Pope Francis met with Kim Davis, a county clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples. The September 2015 meeting drew criticism due to Davis's stance on same-sex marriage.
2015: Criticism for supporting Juan Barros
In 2015, Pope Francis faced criticism for his support of Chilean bishop Juan Barros, who was accused of covering up sexual abuse cases within the Catholic Church in Chile. The accusations included crimes against minors.
2015: European migrant crisis
In 2015, the European migrant crisis occurred, prompting Pope Francis to take action to address the situation.
2016: Inzoli Convicted of Sexually Abusing Children
In 2016, Mauro Inzoli was convicted of sexually abusing children in Italian civil court and sentenced to prison.
2016: Contrast with Donald Trump
Since 2016, Pope Francis has been contrasted with U.S. president Donald Trump. During the 2016 United States presidential election, Francis said of Trump, "A person who only thinks about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian." The 2016 comparison highlighted contrasting ideologies.
2016: Increased Criticism from Theological Conservatives
Since 2016, Pope Francis has faced intensified criticism from theological conservatives. Some have attributed the disagreement to his emphasis on pastoral discernment over theoretical principles. The 2016 criticism marked a notable shift in conservative reaction.
January 2017: Resignation of Matthew Festing
In January 2017, Pope Francis demanded the resignation of Matthew Festing, the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, following Festing's dismissal of Baron Albrecht von Boeselager. This led to Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto's appointment as leader in May 2017.
March 2017: Julio César Grassi Conviction Upheld
In March 2017, the Supreme Court of Argentina upheld the conviction and prison sentence against Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse. Previously, in 2010 then-Cardinal Bergoglio commissioned a study which concluded that Father Julio César Grassi, a priest convicted of child sexual abuse, was innocent, that his victims were lying, and that the case against him never should have gone to trial.
May 2017: Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto appointed leader
In May 2017, Fra' Giacomo Dalla Torre del Tempio di Sanguinetto was appointed leader of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta after the resignation of Matthew Festing.
July 2017: "Filial Correction" of Francis
In July 2017, a group of conservative clergy, academics, and laymen signed a document labeled as a "Filial Correction" of Pope Francis, criticizing him for allegedly promoting seven heretical propositions through various words, actions, and omissions during his pontificate.
September 2017: Francis Admits Mishandling Inzoli Case
In September 2017, Pope Francis admitted that he mishandled the Mauro Inzoli case, saying that as a new pope, "I did not understand these things well and chose the more benevolent of the two sentences but after two years the priest had a relapse. I learned from this."
2017: Vatican investigation into McCarrick
In 2017, after renewed allegations against Theodore McCarrick, Pope Francis commissioned a Vatican investigation. The investigation found that McCarrick had sexually molested both adults and minors. The 2017 investigation was key in understanding the extent of McCarrick's abuse.
July 2018: McCarrick's Resignation from College of Cardinals
In July 2018, Theodore McCarrick resigned from the College of Cardinals following allegations of sexual misconduct. McCarrick's resignation from the College of Cardinals was a significant step in holding him accountable.
August 2018: Suggestion of Psychiatric Treatment for Gay Children
In August 2018, Pope Francis was criticized for suggesting that gay children seek psychiatric treatment. The remarks made in August 2018 drew significant backlash.
October 2018: Review of the Church's Decision-Making on McCarrick
In October 2018, Pope Francis ordered a review of the Church's "institutional knowledge and decision-making" related to Theodore McCarrick, the review aimed to identify failures in the Church's handling of the McCarrick case. The review of the Church's decision-making was an attempt to learn from past mistakes.
2018: Acknowledging Errors and Apology
In 2018, Pope Francis acknowledged that he had made "grave errors" in his judgment regarding Juan Barros. He apologized to the victims of abuse and launched a Vatican investigation, leading to the resignation of three Chilean bishops, including Barros, Gonzalo Duarte, and Cristián Caro. The events of 2018 marked a turning point in the handling of the abuse allegations.
2018: Papal Visit to Ireland
In 2018, Pope Francis visited Ireland, marking the first papal tour of the country since John Paul II's historic trip in 1979. During the visit, he apologized for sexual abuses by clergy in the United States and Ireland.
2018: Controversial agreement with China
In 2018, an agreement between the Vatican and China regarding the appointment of bishops was met with controversy. Critics like Cardinal Joseph Zen argued the 2018 agreement was a step toward the "annihilation" of the Catholic Church in China, accusing the Vatican of undermining its spiritual authority and "selling out" Chinese Catholics by accepting infringements on religious freedom.
2018: Vatican deal with China
In 2018, the Vatican reached an agreement with China, though the details were not specified in this context, it later became a point of contention due to repeated violations by the Chinese government.
February 2019: Acknowledgment of Sexual Abuse and Summit on Clergy Sexual Abuse
In February 2019, Pope Francis acknowledged that priests and bishops were sexually abusing religious sisters. He addressed the clergy sex abuse scandal by convening a summit on clergy sexual abuse in February 2019.
February 2019: Summit on Sexual Abuse
In February 2019, Pope Francis convened a summit on sexual abuse, organized by Hans Zollner. Some abuse survivors expressed disappointment that the summit did not result in concrete rules on abuse prevention, responses to abuse, and Church cooperation with law enforcement authorities.
May 2019: Promulgation of Vos estis lux mundi
On 9 May 2019, Pope Francis promulgated the motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi, which specified responsibilities for reporting on bishops and superiors directly to the Holy See, involving another bishop in the archdiocese of the accused bishop, as a follow-up to the summit on clergy sexual abuse.
December 2019: Abolishing "Pontifical Secrecy" in Sexual Abuse Cases
In December 2019, Pope Francis abolished the "pontifical secrecy" privilege in sexual abuse cases, clarifying that bishops do not need authorization from the Vatican to turn over materials from canonical trials upon request of civil law enforcement authorities. The events of December 2019 were praised by victim advocates, but did not require the Church to affirmatively turn over canonical documents to civil authorities.
2019: Defrocking of Theodore McCarrick
In 2019, Pope Francis defrocked Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop of Washington, due to repeated reports of sexual misconduct against him dating back to the 1980s. The defrocking was a significant step in addressing the allegations.
2019: Criticism over Hong Kong pro-democracy protests
In 2019, during the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, Pope Francis faced criticism for not taking a stronger stance against China's repression. He was quoted as saying, "I would like to go to China. I love China," and he compared the Hong Kong protests to those in Chile and France.
March 2020: Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Pope Francis cancelled regular general audiences at St. Peter's Square, encouraged priests to visit patients and health workers, urged the faithful not to forget the poor, and offered prayers for people with the virus in China. On 13 March 2020, he reacted with displeasure to the closure of all churches in the Diocese of Rome and pleaded "not to leave the people alone."
March 2020: Creation of Vatican COVID-19 Commission
On 20 March 2020, Pope Francis asked the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (DPIHD) to create a Vatican COVID-19 Commission to listen to concerns and develop responses for the future.
November 2020: Release of Vatican's Report on McCarrick's Career
In November 2020, Pope Francis authorized the release of the Vatican's two-year investigation report into Theodore McCarrick's career. The report largely faulted Pope John Paul II for appointing McCarrick and accepting his denials of abuse. The 2020 report highlighted systemic issues within the Church.
2020: Rupnik's Lenten Meditation for Priests
In 2020, Marko Rupnik preached a Lenten meditation for priests working in the Roman Curia, including Pope Francis and Luis Ladaria Ferrer, raising concerns given the later allegations against him. The 2020 meditation drew criticism in light of subsequent revelations.
June 2021: Publication of Pascite gregem Dei
On 1 June 2021, Pope Francis published the apostolic constitution Pascite gregem Dei, reforming Vatican penal law by strengthening penalties for sexual abuse and financial crimes, and also more harshly punishing the ordination of women.
July 2021: Issuance of Traditionis custodes
In July 2021, Pope Francis issued the apostolic letter Traditionis custodes, reversing his predecessor Benedict XVI's decision in Summorum Pontificum and imposing new restrictions on the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. This letter returned to the bishops the power to grant or ban the Latin Mass in their dioceses, leading to criticism from prelates and lay faithful. Some critics felt the restrictions were unnecessary and implemented unjustly.
November 2021: Gratitude to Journalists for Uncovering Abuse Scandals
In November 2021, Pope Francis thanked journalists for their work in uncovering child sexual abuse scandals within the Church. He acknowledged their role in preventing the issue from being ignored and giving a voice to abuse victims. The remarks of November 2021 highlighted the importance of media in addressing the abuse crisis.
2021: Rumors about Resignation
In 2021, Pope Francis's health problems prompted rumors that he might resign, which Francis dismissed.
January 2022: Private Meeting with Marko Rupnik
In January 2022, Pope Francis met privately with Marko Rupnik, who was later accused of psychological, spiritual, and sexual abuse. The January 2022 meeting drew scrutiny amidst allegations against Rupnik.
July 2022: Apostolic Journey to Canada and Apology to Indigenous Peoples
In July 2022, Pope Francis made an apostolic journey to Canada, expressing sorrow, indignation, and shame over the Catholic Church's abuse of Canadian Indigenous children in residential schools. He apologized for the church's role in "projects of cultural destruction" and forced assimilation and promised a serious investigation into the history of abuse.
September 2022: Statements on the War in Ukraine
In September 2022, Pope Francis stated that Ukraine had the right to defend itself, but called for a negotiated settlement and dialogue with all parties, including the aggressor. He also suggested that arms transfers to Ukraine could be morally acceptable under certain conditions. He acknowledged the suffering of the Ukrainian people.
November 2022: Cardinal Ricard's Admission and Francis's Response
In November 2022, French Cardinal Jean-Pierre Ricard admitted to having sexually abused a 14-year-old girl in the 1980s in Marseille. French authorities opened an investigation, and Pope Francis commented that more cases like this shouldn't surprise anyone and condemned sexual abuse. However, Francis did not deprive Ricard of his status as a cardinal.
November 2022: Vatican accuses China of violating agreement
In November 2022, the Vatican publicly accused China of violating their agreement by installing John Peng Weizhao as an auxiliary bishop without the Vatican's approval.
2022: Use of Wheelchair and Acknowledgment of Slower Papacy Phase
Pope Francis has publicly used a wheelchair since 2022 due to persistent knee pain and acknowledged that his recurring mobility problems had precipitated the beginning of what Reuters termed "a new, slower phase of his papacy".
March 2023: Hospitalization for Respiratory Infection
In March 2023, Pope Francis was hospitalized in Rome with a respiratory infection.
April 2023: China installs bishop without Vatican approval
In April 2023, the Chinese government installed Joseph Shen Bin as bishop of Shanghai without Vatican approval, further straining relations between the Vatican and China.
2023: Expulsion of Rupnik from Society of Jesus
In 2023, Marko Rupnik was expelled from the Society of Jesus for disobedience rather than for the abuse allegations. The 2023 expulsion was criticized for not directly addressing the abuse allegations.
January 2024: Rejection of blessings for same-sex couples in Africa
In January 2024, in response to Fiducia supplicans, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu announced that all episcopal conferences in Africa, represented in SECAM, would reject blessings for same-sex couples, citing the potential for scandals. This followed considerable controversy among Catholics, including strong criticism from several conservative commentators and high-profile cardinals regarding the declaration.
2024: Renewal of agreement with China
In 2024, the Vatican and the Chinese government renewed their existing agreement, continuing their dialogue and relationship despite previous challenges and violations.
January 2025: Establishment of Independent Tribunal
In January 2025, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández confirmed that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) was working to establish an independent tribunal to move forward with judicial proceedings related to the Marko Rupnik case. The January 2025 tribunal was a step towards addressing the controversy.
February 2025: Hospitalization due to Bronchitis and Polymicrobial Infection
In February 2025, Pope Francis was hospitalized due to bronchitis and a polymicrobial infection. His condition was described as critical, and he experienced kidney failure and required mechanical ventilation.
February 2025: Response to US bishops after mass deportations
In February 2025, following mass deportations and cuts to international aid by the new US administration under President Donald Trump, Pope Francis wrote "an extraordinary and excoriating response to US bishops" who defended the policies. He criticized the use of ordo amoris to justify nativism, citing the parable of the Good Samaritan and emphasizing a fraternity open to all.
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