In early 2013, the Catholic Church experienced a historic moment: Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio ascended to the Throne of St. Peter as Pope Francis, ushering in a renewed atmosphere that surprised even many within the Vatican. His election not only defied expectations surrounding papal authority but also highlighted the decisive role of naturalness and warmth in revitalizing the public image of the Pontiff.
Pope Francis: How Humility and Closeness Changed the Face of the Papacy
At that time, millions of faithful and international observers were impressed by the radical shift in the Pope’s approach to interaction.
The new Pope greeted crowds with warm simplicity, conversed informally with the faithful, and made public jokes. Until his election, the papal figure was often associated with a certain protocolary rigidity and formal distance. By contrast, Francis’ demeanor was, in comparative terms, a breath of fresh air.
According to experts in the history of the papacy—among them a prominent professor of ecclesiastical history at the Catholic University of Milan—the contrast was particularly striking compared to his predecessor, Benedict XVI. While Joseph Ratzinger had a refined sense of humor in private, his public reserve and timidity led him to strictly adhere to protocol. The new Pontiff, on the other hand, did not hesitate to break from the pre-established script. “He is very natural and behaves the same way on camera as he does in private,” said at the time a veteran Italian Vaticanist, author of several essays on the Holy See.
Moreover, Pope Francis’ charisma was evident in seemingly minor but significant details. For instance, during his first Masses at the Vatican, he chose to wear a simple violet chasuble rather than traditional pomp. He also opted to deliver homilies standing before the congregation, replacing the distant image of a Pontiff seated on a throne. This closeness, as noted by a religious communication specialist from the International Center for Catholic Studies in Paris, conveyed a sense of humility to the Catholic community, reminiscent of Pope John XXIII, affectionately known as “the Good Pope.”
A Charisma Evoking Past Leaderships
Francis’ approach evoked memories of John Paul II, another Pope who used a personable communication style to win over believers and non-believers alike. However, Francis seemed to break with convention even more profoundly. His early public appearances were filled with impromptu remarks, broad smiles, and subtle nods to his audience.
For example, during one of his first Sunday Angelus prayers in St. Peter’s Square—then filled with over 150,000 faithful—the Pope humorously remarked that he was not promoting a book written by one of his cardinals, even though he had openly quoted it during his sermon. The crowd’s reaction was immediate: laughter and cheers echoed against the Vatican walls, underscoring the power of his closeness in connecting with the masses.
According to a theologian with extensive experience analyzing the Second Vatican Council, this spontaneity struck a chord as it harkened back to the reformist and dialogical spirit of that Council. In contrast to a distant and vertical ecclesiastical authority, the new papal style, more horizontal, sought to reconnect with the popular sentiment. After years of internal tensions and scandals, the Church needed a figure to restore its credibility. “Pope Francis was the first Latin American Pontiff, and his roots in the social realities of Buenos Aires’ ‘neighborhoods’ helped humanize his image to the world,” remarked a historian specializing in the Church in Latin America.
An Impact on the Curia and the College of Cardinals
The new Pope’s demeanor not only surprised the international press and public opinion but also members of the Curia and the College of Cardinals. Several cardinals recognized Bergoglio’s Franciscan simplicity and his ability to touch hearts through gestures of proximity. Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Scherer, one of the prelates who participated in the 2013 conclave, expressed his admiration on social media, highlighting the combination of the Pope’s Jesuit formation with his simplicity inspired by St. Francis of Assisi.
However, this cordiality was not without resistance. Certain conservative sectors of the Church harbored some skepticism: some worried that protocol might erode and that the traditional image could weaken under these more human and informal displays. Behind the scenes, doubts were raised about the long-term sustainability of this style and whether the Church could maintain its doctrinal authority with such a relaxed leadership. Nevertheless, according to analysts from the Catholic newspaper L’Osservatore Romano at the time, the Pontiff seemed well aware of the balance required between his natural charm and respect for the millennial institution he represented.
Media Reaction and the Power of Colloquial Language
The international press, which had often criticized the rigidity of the Vatican, reacted positively to Francis’ arrival. Journalists accustomed to papal solemnity emphasized the new Church leader’s ability to use a more colloquial language. In those early days following the conclave, esteemed editorial offices claimed the world was witnessing a paradigm shift in how the Papacy communicated with global society. In fact, experts in political communication consulted by specialized outlets like La Civiltà Cattolica noted that Bergoglio’s election was part of an effort to reconnect with Catholics who had drifted away from religious practice.
Additionally, it was observed that his humor served a pedagogical function. His spontaneity made it easier to present complex theological concepts to a broader audience. As such, a cardinal close to the Pope commented privately that Francis knew how to engage in frank and direct conversations, presenting himself not as the Church’s “absolute monarch” but rather as a “neighborhood pastor”—someone the people could greet after Sunday Mass without the barrier of traditional protocols.
The Legacy of a New Papal Model
As months and years passed, the initial impressions of Francis’ style became clearer. The faithful, by and large, were pleased with the public emergence of a Pope who was approachable and open to dialogue. At the same time, subsequent studies by historians and theologians specializing in the evolution of the Papacy emphasized how Francis’ image created a less distant model of Pontificate, renewing relationships with local congregations and narrowing the gap between the Apostolic See and everyday realities.
Despite the initial concerns of some conservative sectors, the Pontiff maintained his charisma during audiences, pastoral visits, and meetings with world leaders. His gestures, to varying degrees, consistently reflected a figure that valued closeness. According to the testimony of a seasoned Vaticanist in Rome, the “Franciscan simplicity” of the Pope—as noted at the time—was not an improvised communication tactic but the logical consequence of a man shaped by the streets of Buenos Aires and Jesuit cloisters.
Sources and Historical Reminder
This paradigm shift has been extensively documented through various sources. In newspaper archives from 2013, the media impact of the Pope’s first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica is evident, particularly when he asked the gathered crowd to pray for him before imparting his blessing—a rare gesture that set the tone for his pontificate. Meanwhile, analyses from renowned Catholic media and general press outlets, from the BBC to Argentine newspapers, highlighted the unprecedented nature of Francis’ style, underscoring his ability to reshape the Church’s image during a time of internal and external crises.
Additionally, essays and studies published in subsequent years by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications analyzed the relevance of this accessible language in spreading the Church’s message. It became clear that humor and closeness were not enemies of solemnity but tools to strengthen bonds with a flock that needed to regain trust in its spiritual leaders.
A Milestone in the Modern History of the Church
Ultimately, Pope Francis’ arrival marked a milestone in the modern history of Catholicism. During the first months of his pontificate, public opinion, the ecclesiastical world, and the international press witnessed the emergence of a leader capable of blending tradition with spontaneity. This evolution, nurtured by the experience of a prelate who knew how to translate faith into simple gestures, was etched into collective memory as a period when closeness and humor transformed the perception of the Papacy in the eyes of the world.
