Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires remembered as joyful and mischievous

Early memories from nuns at Misericordia kindergarten reveal Pope Francis’ playful nature and the roots of his spiritual journey.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio (bottom row, right), who would later become Pope Francis, appears in a group photo at his elementary school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 3, 2023. School No. 8-11, located about 100 meters from his birthplace, was where Bergoglio studied from age six to eleven. Photo by Florencia Martin/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires remains etched in the memories of the people who witnessed the earliest stages of his spiritual and personal development. At just five years old, the boy who would grow up to become the head of the Catholic Church was already showing signs of charisma and warmth, albeit with a streak of mischief. For the nuns at the Misericordia kindergarten in the Flores neighborhood, Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires was filled with joyful moments and a youthful exuberance that never quite faded.

A spirited boy in the Flores neighborhood

In the early 1940s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio began attending the Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia kindergarten. The Flores neighborhood, a modest working-class district in Argentina’s capital, was already shaping the young boy’s worldview. With cobblestone streets and a deep sense of community, Flores played a foundational role in nurturing both his character and faith.

“He was rather mischievous,” said Teresa Rovira, a teacher who later heard stories passed down from the older nuns. “One is not born a saint, one becomes a saint,” she added, echoing a sentiment that would come to define his papacy. These reflections on Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires offer a vivid glimpse of a boy running up marble staircases, kicking a football with friends in the schoolyard, and soaking in the warmth of a tight-knit community.

Early steps toward a life of faith

It was also at Misericordia that Jorge Bergoglio received his first communion and, later, the sacrament of confirmation. These milestones marked the beginning of a journey that would eventually lead him to the highest spiritual office in the Catholic Church. Though he continued his education in other parts of the city, it was in Flores that the roots of his spiritual dedication took hold.

Misericordia, nestled in a part of Buenos Aires that includes one of the city’s largest slums, may not seem like the birthplace of a pope to outsiders. Yet for those who knew Bergoglio as a child, the connection is both obvious and profound. The neighborhood wasn’t just where he was raised — it was where he was formed.

Flores pays tribute to its most famous son

On the day of Pope Francis' passing at the age of 88, crowds gathered at the Flores basilica to offer prayers and remember the man who never forgot his origins. The church, steeped in quiet reverence, holds special significance — it was here, at just 17 years old, that Bergoglio felt called to become a priest. A small golden plaque on a wooden kneeler marks the exact spot where this transformation began.

Throughout the neighborhood, memories of Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires live on. At the nearby Barrio de Flores Museum, a display dedicated to the late pope includes a handwritten letter he sent for the museum’s opening in 2018. “My neighborhood, my roots,” he wrote — a simple, heartfelt message that reflects how deeply he valued the place where it all began.

The football club and the faithful fan

Further south, in the area known as Bajo Flores, stands the home of the San Lorenzo football club — a team founded by a priest and supported passionately by Bergoglio. The club’s stadium is currently set for reconstruction, and when it reopens, it will bear the name of its most renowned fan: Pope Francis.

The intersection of sport, spirituality, and service defined much of the pope’s personality. His enthusiasm for football was not just about the game, but about the camaraderie it fostered. For many in Buenos Aires, the image of Pope Francis cheering for San Lorenzo was a comforting reminder that holiness and humanity can coexist.

A man of humility and simplicity

Even after becoming archbishop and later pope, Bergoglio never lost touch with his simple ways. Rovira remembers how he would visit Misericordia for mass on the anniversary of his first communion every October 8. Sometimes, he would arrive unannounced on Sundays for pasta lunches with the nuns or sneak into the kitchen for a quiet cup of tea with the cook.

“Porota, don’t tell the little nuns that I’ve arrived yet, let’s have tea first — but let me make it,” he would say with a grin. These small gestures highlight not just Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires, but the man he remained throughout his life: approachable, unpretentious, and rooted in community.

Despite knee pain and aging joints, he would travel by metro or bus rather than taking a taxi. It was a habit that baffled many but made perfect sense to those who knew him. “He was stubborn,” Rovira said, “but that’s just who he was.”

A quiet departure and lasting legacy

Twelve years before his death, Bergoglio left Argentina for the Vatican with little more than a small suitcase and the clothes he was wearing. Rovira recalls that day with clarity and emotion. “He left simple, like the man he was,” she said.

Though he never returned, his presence remained deeply felt. On the day of his death, long lines formed outside the Flores basilica. Inside, mourners approached the confessional where he is said to have felt his first divine calling. Outside, vendors sold plastic flowers as people bowed their heads in silent prayer.

Students play in the courtyard of the school that Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now known as Pope Francis, attended during his childhood, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 3, 2023. Photo by Florencia Martin/Getty Images

For many Argentines, and for Catholics worldwide, Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires serves as a powerful symbol of humility, conviction, and transformation. The boy who once sprinted through school halls and secretly brewed tea for nuns grew into a spiritual leader who championed the poor, defended the marginalized, and brought a message of compassion to the global stage.

A pope born of Flores

The stories told by the sisters of Misericordia are not just charming anecdotes — they are essential chapters in understanding the man behind the papal robes. His life reminds us that sainthood is not bestowed at birth. It is forged through experience, struggle, joy, and love — often in the most unassuming places.

Pope Francis' childhood in Buenos Aires was not just the beginning of a remarkable personal journey, but the foundation of a legacy that will endure for generations. His faith was born in the slums, his character shaped by the kindness of nuns, and his leadership grounded in empathy and humility. In Flores, his story began — and it is there, in spirit, that he remains.