Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday, came from a humble background before dedicating his life to priesthood.
According to records of his early life, Jorge Mario Bergoglio as he was known in his native Argentina took on small jobs to support his family, including working as a nightclub bouncer.
He also once worked in a factory in Italy, where his father, Mario Bergoglio, was employed as an accountant.
During a sermon at a church in Rome in 2013, Pope Francis born on December 17, 1936 revealed that he once swept floors at a chemical laboratory factory. He later became a high school teacher.
In 1958, driven by a desire to serve the poor and deepen his spiritual life, he joined the religious order known as the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), which played a significant role in shaping his path to priesthood.
In his early twenties, he faced serious health issues and underwent surgery to remove part of his lungs due to a severe illness.
Despite these challenges, the Argentine native remained committed to his religious studies and never lost hope.
He was ordained a priest in 1969, and his leadership within the Jesuit community began to gain recognition.
In 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed Bergoglio as Auxiliary Bishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The following year, on June 27, he was consecrated, and in 1997 he was named Archbishop.
In 1998, he succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino and was elevated to the rank of Cardinal.
Following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the 266th Pope by the College of Cardinals at the age of 76.