Pope Francis’s most defining moments

Pope Francis, a transformative leader of the Catholic Church from 2013 to 2025, championed social justice and reform, advocating for the marginalized and promoting environmental sustainability through his influential encyclical "Laudato Si'." His papacy also saw efforts to address sexual abuse scandals and increase transparency within the Church, while he used his global influence to mediate conflicts and advocate for human rights. Despite facing health challenges in later years, Francis left a lasting legacy as a pope deeply committed to peace and justice.