Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A member of the Society of Jesus, he was appointed a Cardinal in 2001. Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Bergoglio was named his successor. He chose the name Francis in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. His pontificate was characterized by his many acts of humility, concern for the poor, and his commitment to dialogue and community. He was the author The New York Times bestseller Dear Pope Francis, among many other books. Pope Francis passed away on April 20, 2025.
JAMES P. CAMPBELL, D.MIN., father of two children and grandfather of six, is a religious educator and author. He is the coauthor of the
Finding God religious education program and has three post-graduate degrees, including masters degrees in theology and history and a doctorate in Ministry in Christian Education from the Aquinas Institute of Theology. He lives in Rockford, IL, with his wife Barbara.