Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio (born 1936), now called Pope Francis by Roman Catholics, is the present-day Bishop of Rome, aka the Pope and has had this role since 2013.

Unlike some of his predecessors, he appears less tied to the rigid traditions and formalism that have long characterized Roman Catholicism. His emphasis on humility, care for the poor, and mercy over strict adherence to dogma might indicate a move toward a more Christ-like posture.

He is also commended for his commitment to religious discourse, especially within Christianity but also with other religions such as Islam and eastern traditions.

In 2015, he attended a Waldensian church in northern Italy to apologise for the brutal massacres by Roman Catholic crusaders that were carried out on the exact site he visited.

Predecessor as Pope: Pope Benedict XVI