Pope Francis, whose ailing health resulted in a 38-day hospital stay earlier this year, died Monday morning at age 88. “He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially for the poorest and most marginalized,” the Vatican camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, said in a statement.
Just as he held his faith dearly, so too did Francis value his family. Although Catholic priests aren’t allowed to marry nor have children, he is survived by several living relatives.
Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. He was the eldest of Mario José Bergoglio and Regina María Sívori’s five children.
When he was elected pope in 2013, he had one sibling still alive, his sister Maria Elena Bergoglio, who revealed she had once hoped he wouldn’t be chosen pope. “During the previous conclave, I was praying for him not to be elected… because I didn’t want my brother to leave,” she told CNN en Español. “It’s a position that was a little selfish.” This time, she added, “I prayed that the Holy Spirit would intervene and not listen to me. And it didn’t listen to me… It did what it wanted.”
After he was elected, Francis told Maria to tell the rest of their family. “He said, ‘I cannot call everyone. We are a very big family, so please send them my love. Because if I call everyone, it will empty the Vatican coffers,’” Maria revealed.
Maria didn’t go to Rome for his inauguration. “My brother asked us to save money and use it for charitable works. I’ll do as he says,” she told an Italian newspaper at the time. Maria also shared she was worried about him becoming lonely in the role. “Let’s not leave him alone. Francis is asking the Church to resume its journey, but we the faithful must walk with him.”
A few of Pope Francis’ relatives, inlcuding Maria’s youngest son, Jose Ignacio Bergoglio, have spoken publicly about being related to the Pope. In an interview with the Catholic television network EWTN, Jose revealed Francis maintained a sharp sense of humor with his relatives—even on his first phone call after his election to the papacy. “So when I asked who I was speaking [with], he said, ‘It’s Jorge, stupid!’ Well, he actually used a different word, so I said, ‘OK, OK.’ And I passed the phone to my mom,” he said.
Jose also revealed Francis referred to Maria by the nickname “Chubby,” which was used as a form of endearment.
Further, one of Francis’ nieces, Cristina Bergoglio, is an artist who now lives in Madrid. In 2018, she said of her uncle, “I do not see him anymore, not because I don’t want to, but because I respect his job as a spiritual messenger very much and because I am also very busy with my work.”
Any other living relatives have remained out of the public eye.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Senior News Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
