The recent visit of Pope Francis to Cuba and the United States has boosted the social and political profile of the Catholic Church, which seeks an increased role in world politics.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope in March 2013, and his arrival to the Vatican generated high expectations that he would bring change to the position. The image of a “pope of the poor” who denounced corruption (even at the Vatican Bank) and Bergoglio’s attempts to position himself closer to the problems of “the people” has helped build an image of a social church.

Before being named Pope Francis, Bergoglio was archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bergoglio was and continues to be known for his talent for politics, and is famous for his 2013 declaration that “a good Catholic takes part in politics.” From his early days in the Argentine Catholic Church to his arrival at the Vatican, Bergoglio has affirmed his will to rebuild the authority of the institution and recover the influence it has lost.