Pope Francis became the church’s 266th in 2013 when the papal conclave elected him after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI ...

Leo XIII – February 20, 1878 - July 20, 1903: Born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci in Italy, he directed the Catholic Church for 25 years, dying at 93 in Rome. He was regarded as, somewhat, ...

A huge security operation was in place as presidents and prime ministers flocked to the Vatican for Francis's funeral.

Pope Francis, whose death was announced Monday, was one of the oldest pontiffs to serve as the head of the Catholic Church.