History Today: When Francis became the first Latin American pope

On March 13, 2013, Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina was elected pope and chose the name Francis. He became the first Jesuit and the first Latin American to hold the position.

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On this day in 2020, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced that he was stepping down from the company’s board to dedicate more time to philanthropy. Also, on this day in 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black woman, was shot dead by police after officers forced their way into her apartment using a battering ram.

Let’s take a look at these events in detail:

Argentina’s Bergoglio is elected as Pope Francis

On this day in 2013, Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as the head of the Catholic Church, taking the name Francis.

With his election, Bergoglio became the first non-European pope in nearly 1,300 years and the first-ever member of the Jesuit order to hold the position.

He succeeded Benedict XVI, who stepped down - the first pope to do so in almost 600 years, citing his inability to continue managing the responsibilities of his office.

Although Bergoglio was not considered a frontrunner, he had secured more votes than any candidate other than Benedict in the 2005 conclave. While his election surprised many, he was not an unexpected choice.

Francis, known for his humility and advocacy for the poor, lived a simple life in Buenos Aires. Born to Italian immigrant parents, he was raised in the Argentine capital.

He assumed leadership at a challenging time for the Catholic Church, which was facing challenges such as the role of women, interfaith tensions, and declining congregations in some regions.

In his first address, he led a prayer for his predecessor and asked the assembled crowd to “pray to God so that he can bless me,” calling for a renewed commitment to love and fraternity.

The announcement of his election was met with overwhelming applause at the Buenos Aires cathedral, his home city. Across Latin America, people responded with a mix of joy and surprise.

In 2013, Francis took a historic step by formally approving blessings for same-sex couples - a major shift towards inclusivity while upholding the Church’s strict ban on gay marriage.

Breonna Taylor is shot dead

Shortly after midnight on March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency medical technician, was shot dead by police in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment.

Officers forced entry using a battering ram.

Taylor and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, had been asleep. Believing an intruder had broken in, Walker, who legally owned a firearm, fired a single shot, wounding Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly in the leg.

Mattingly and two other officers, Myles Cosgrove and Brett Hankison, all of whom were white, responded by firing 32 rounds in the dark. Taylor was struck six times.

The officers were placed on administrative leave, while Walker was arrested for attempted murder of a police officer. The charge was dropped on May 22 as federal and state authorities launched investigations. No drugs were found in the apartment, according to The New York Times.

Taylor’s death led to national outrage, with protests and the viral #SayHerName campaign drawing attention to police violence. In response, Louisville passed “Breonna’s Law,” banning no-knock warrants. The city also agreed to a $12 million wrongful death settlement with Taylor’s family.

She became a symbol of racial injustice. Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris mentioned her in speeches, while Oprah Winfrey featured Taylor on her magazine’s cover and funded billboards in her honour. Beyonce called for the officers involved to face charges, and NBA stars, including LeBron James, used postgame interviews to keep her story in the spotlight.

Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board

On this day in 2020, billionaire Bill Gates announced his decision to step down from Microsoft’s board of directors to focus more on his philanthropic efforts, including “global health, development, education, and his increasing engagement in tackling climate change.”

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, served as the company’s CEO until 2000. Since then, he gradually reduced his involvement in its operations.

In 2008, he stepped away from his daily role at Microsoft and continued as chairman of the board until 2014.

One of the world’s wealthiest individuals, Gates also stepped down from the board of Berkshire Hathaway, the massive holding company led by Warren Buffett.

He had expressed his intention to dedicate more time to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation while continuing to serve as a technology adviser to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and other senior executives.

In his announcement, Gates said that Microsoft would “always be an important part of my life’s work” and that he would stay engaged with its leadership.

This Day, That Year

1781: Astronomer William Herschel discovered Uranus, the seventh planet in the solar system.

1980: Varun Gandhi, grandson of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a three-term Lok Sabha MP, was born.

1996: A gunman entered a primary school in Dunblane, Scotland, killing 16 children and a teacher before taking his own life. It remains the deadliest mass shooting in British history.

2012: Encyclopedia Britannica announced the end of its print edition, marking the conclusion of the longest-running English-language general print encyclopaedia.

2020: US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.