When Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, few imagined the depth of his impact. The first Latin American pontiff, the first Jesuit to take office and the first Francis in the history of the Church, his figure soon became synonymous with closeness, simplicity and commitment to the excluded. But his legacy goes far beyond style. For more than a decade, Pope Francis transformed the way the Church presents itself to the world, reshaped internal structures and established himself as one of the most influential moral voices of the 21st century.

These are the nine keys that will mark his legacy.

1. A pastoral openness on sensitive issues

Francis did not change Catholic doctrine on issues such as abortion or homosexuality, but he did change the approach. "Who am I to judge?" he said in 2013, referring to homosexuals seeking God. This phrase summed up his desire for a Church that accompanies rather than condemns.

Instead of making these issues his banner, he preferred to focus his message on mercy, human dignity and encounter. In 2016, he extended to all priests the power to absolve the sin of abortion, a gesture that privileges forgiveness over punishment. It was a change of tone, rather than of content.

2. Women at the center: concrete steps without touching the altar

Although Pope Francis maintained the traditional position of not allowing the female priesthood, his pontificate took unprecedented steps in the inclusion of women in positions of responsibility within the Vatican.

He appointed French nun Nathalie Becquart as undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops (the first woman with voting rights in that sphere), and Francesca Di Giovanni as a senior official in the Secretariat of State. He also opened the ministry of lectorate and acolyte to women, something that was not allowed until then.

Although the altar is still forbidden ground, Francis placed women at the heart of ecclesial processes, especially in the current synodal journey.

3. Fighting abuse: from denial to institutional action

The sexual abuse scandal has shaken the Church in recent decades. Francis confronted it with a mixture of initial failed reactions and firm corrections.

In Chile, his defense of Bishop Juan Barros - accused of cover-up - provoked outrage. But he later asked for forgiveness and accepted the resignation of the entire Chilean hierarchy. In 2019, he issued Vos estis lux mundi, a norm that mandates the reporting of abuse, including by bishops, and allows the involvement of lay people in investigations.

He also excommunicated powerful figures such as U.S. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. It installed a more transparent and active system, although it still faces structural challenges.

4. A strategist of power: he changed the composition of the College of Cardinals.

Francis understood that to leave a lasting legacy he had to transform the architecture of ecclesial power. He appointed more than two-thirds of the current College of Cardinals, that is, the majority of the cardinals who will elect the next pope.

His appointments privilege pastors from the global south, from peripheral dioceses, and with a pastoral rather than doctrinal style. He reduced the weight of Europe and conservative sectors. With this, he sowed the foundations for a continuity of his ecclesial vision, closer to the "peripheries" than to the center.

5. The pope of the periphery and the global south

Francis spoke from the south of the world. He raised the voice of native peoples, defended migrants, denounced the throwaway economy and visited places forgotten by power, such as Lampedusa, the U.S.-Mexico border and war zones like South Sudan.

He reinforced the role of Latin America as a source of spiritual and social renewal. His commitment to the excluded was more than symbolic: it was a constant in his theology of the people and in his style of government.

6. A moral leader in the face of the world's crises

In times of distrust towards political leaders, Francis established himself as one of the most respected moral voices on the planet. His encyclical Laudato si' (2015) on care for the Common Home was groundbreaking in addressing the ecological crisis from an ethical, spiritual and economic perspective.

He also wrote Fratelli tutti (2020), a reflection on human fraternity and the need to rebuild politics from the common good. She has participated in international forums, such as the UN and the G7, denouncing inequality, armamentism and authoritarian populism.

7. The reform of the Curia: transparency and mission

With the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium (2022), Francis restructured the Roman Curia. He prioritized evangelization over doctrine, simplified dicasteries (Vatican ministries), and allowed lay people and women to head key bodies.

He also pushed for financial reforms after several scandals, with external audits and public trials, such as that of Cardinal Becciu. Although not all the changes have been fully effective, Francis broke the Vatican's institutional inertia.

8. The impulse of a synodal Church

For Francis, the Church should not be a pyramid but a "holy faithful people of God". For this reason, he promoted a synodal model, where all - laity, religious, bishops - walk together, listen to each other and discern in community.

The synodal process begun in 2021, still in progress, has gathered millions of people around the world. It is a commitment to a Church that is less clerical, more participatory and more humble. Although its fruits are yet to be seen, it is one of the clearest signs of its desire for structural change.

9. A pontiff who did not dodge criticism

Francis has been the target of strong attacks, especially from conservative sectors in the United States and Europe. He was accused of doctrinal ambiguity, populism and even heresy. However, he never responded harshly.

On the contrary, he defended the right to criticize the pope - "I prefer a Church wounded by discussions than sick from enclosure"- and was not afraid to acknowledge personal mistakes. His leadership was characterized by humility, but also by a serene firmness.

An open legacy

Pope Francis has been many things: pastor, reformer, politician, global leader and witness of faith. His legacy is under construction, and his successor, chosen by a college of cardinals shaped by him, will have the difficult task of continuing or redefining it.

But one thing is certain: Jorge Mario Bergoglio left a deep mark in the history of the Church and in the hearts of millions of faithful who, from the peripheries of the world, saw in him a pope who spoke their language, shared their pain and dreamed of a more human Church.