Pope Francis
Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) was the leader of the Catholic Church and Bishop of Rome preceding Pope Leo XIV. He died before the 2025 papal conclave that elected Leo XIV. Francis initiated major teaching documents on social justice issues including a 'preferential option for the poor' that Leo XIV completed and published. He also developed an ecological legacy that Leo continued, including plans for a solar farm to make Vatican City carbon-neutral.
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Francis began writing a major teaching document on the church's 'preferential option for the poor' which criticized how the wealthy live in a 'bubble of comfort and luxury' while poor people suffer on the margins. He urged commitment to fixing structural causes of poverty.
Francis developed an ecological legacy, with plans for Vatican-owned property to become a massive solar farm making Vatican City the world's first carbon-neutral state.
Leo XIV showed himself 'in perfect lockstep with Francis' on key social justice issues and embraced Francis's ecological legacy, indicating ideological continuity between the pontiffs.
Timeline
Catholic Church
Pope Francis is affiliated with Catholic Church.
Holy See
Pope Francis is affiliated with Holy See.
Vatican City
Pope Francis is affiliated with Vatican City.