RIP: Who was Pope Francis? A comprehensive biography of Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, serving from March 13, 2013, until his death on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. As the first pope from the Americas, the first from South America, and the first Jesuit pope, Francis left an indelible mark on the Catholic Church and the world. Known for his humility, commitment to social justice, and efforts to reform the Church, his papacy was both transformative and polarizing. Early Life and Background
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in the Flores neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Italian immigrant parents, Mario José Bergoglio, a railway accountant, and Regina María Sívori, a homemaker. The eldest of five children, Bergoglio grew up in a working-class family with strong Italian roots. His upbringing in a culturally rich but economically modest environment shaped his lifelong empathy for the poor and marginalized.
As a young man, Bergoglio faced a significant health challenge. At 21, he contracted severe pneumonia, which led to the partial removal of his right lung. Despite this, he maintained robust health throughout much of his life, defying expectations for someone with such a condition.
Before pursuing a religious vocation, Bergoglio worked briefly as a chemical technician after earning a technical degree. He also took on eclectic jobs, including working as a bouncer in a Buenos Aires bar and as a janitor, experiences that grounded his understanding of ordinary people's struggles. Path to Priesthood and Jesuit Formation
Bergoglio's call to the priesthood came early, solidified by a profound spiritual experience at age 17. In 1958, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), a religious order known for its emphasis on education, missionary work, and intellectual rigor. He studied humanities in Santiago, Chile, and earned a licentiate in philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel, Argentina, in 1963.
From 1964 to 1966, Bergoglio taught literature and psychology at Jesuit-run schools in Argentina, showcasing his academic prowess. He pursued theological studies and was ordained a priest on December 13, 1969. In 1973, he made his final profession with the Jesuits and was appointed provincial superior of the Argentine Jesuits, a role he held until 1979.
His leadership during this period coincided with Argentina's turbulent 'Dirty War' (1976–1983), a time of military dictatorship and widespread human rights abuses. Bergoglio faced allegations of complicity in the junta's actions, particularly regarding the kidnapping of two Jesuit priests. However, biographers and witnesses, including his authorized biographer Sergio Rubin, assert that Bergoglio worked discreetly to protect dissidents, sheltering people on church property and even providing his identity papers to help one man flee the country. The Vatican has denied any wrongdoing, and Bergoglio's efforts to open Vatican archives on the dictatorship for victims' families further support his defenders' claims. Rise in the Church Hierarchy
In 1992, Pope John Paul II appointed Bergoglio as an auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires. He chose the episcopal motto miserando atque eligendo ('by having mercy, he chose him'), reflecting his focus on compassion and divine mercy. By 1997, he was named coadjutor archbishop
, and in 1998, he succeeded Cardinal Antonio Quarracino as the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In 2001, John Paul II elevated him to cardinal.
As archbishop, Bergoglio became known for his simplicity and accessibility. He lived in a modest apartment, cooked his own meals, and traveled by public transport. His pastoral approach emphasized evangelization, community engagement, and care for the poor, launching initiatives like a solidarity campaign for Argentina's bicentennial that established 200 charitable agencies by 2016. Election as Pope and Papal Name
Following Pope Benedict XVI's unexpected resignation in February 2013, Bergoglio emerged as a surprise candidate in the papal conclave. Elected on March 13, 2013, on the fifth ballot, he chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, a saint known for his devotion to poverty and peace. The choice was inspired by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes, who, upon Bergoglio's election, urged him, 'Don't forget the poor!'
As the first Pope Francis, he declined to use the numeral 'I,' breaking with tradition. His election marked several historic firsts: the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first non-European pope since Syrian Pope Gregory III in 741. Papacy: Themes and Achievements
Pope Francis's papacy was defined by humility, social justice, and reform. From his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, where he greeted the crowd with a simple 'Buona sera' ('Good evening'), he signaled a departure from the pomp of previous pontiffs. He opted to live in the modest Casa Santa Marta rather than the lavish Apostolic Palace and wore a simple white cassock. Advocacy for the Poor and Marginalized
Francis consistently championed the poor, refugees, and marginalized. His 2013 visit to Lampedusa, Italy, highlighted the plight of African migrants, condemning the 'globalization of indifference.' His encyclical Laudato Si' (2015) linked environmental degradation to economic inequality, calling for action on climate change and criticizing 'throwaway culture.'
He made numerous international trips—over 30 in his first seven years—visiting more than 45 countries, including Cuba, the United States, the Philippines, and Muslim-majority nations like Morocco and the United Arab Emirates. His visits often focused on ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, and support for vulnerable populations. Church Reforms
Francis sought to reform the Vatican's bureaucracy, particularly the Curia and the Institute for the Works of Religion (Vatican Bank), which had faced allegations of corruption. In 2013, he appointed a council of eight cardinals to advise on governance and established a commission to investigate the bank's operations. In 2014, he replaced several cardinal overseers, signaling a commitment to transparency.
His 2019 motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi introduced policies to address sexual abuse allegations against bishops, a response to the global clergy abuse crisis. However, his handling of specific cases, such as the defense of Chilean Bishop Juan Barros, drew criticism, leading to a public apology and the resignation of Chile's bishops in 2018. Social and Moral Stances
While upholding traditional Catholic teachings on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, Francis adopted a more pastoral tone. He famously remarked, 'Who am I to judge?' regarding gay Catholics, signaling a shift toward inclusion. He supported civil unions for same-sex couples to ensure legal protections, though he maintained the Church's stance on marriage as between a man and a woman.
Francis also emphasized mercy, encouraging priests to show compassion in confession and promoting the Jubilee Year of Mercy in 2016. His encyclical Lumen Fidei (2013) and apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (2013) underscored faith and evangelization, urging Catholics to live joyfully and engage with the world. Environmental Advocacy
Laudato Si' was a landmark document, framing environmental stewardship as a moral imperative. Francis connected climate change to social injustice, advocating for sustainable development and the rights of Indigenous peoples. His 2022 documentary The Letter: A Message for Our Earth further amplified this message. Controversies and Challenges
Francis's progressive stances and reforms sparked opposition from conservative factions within the Church. Critics accused him of diluting doctrine, particularly on issues like divorce, remarriage, and homosexuality. His critique of unfettered capitalism and 'clericalism' alienated some traditionalists, who viewed his focus on social justice as a departure from theological priorities.
His handling of the clergy abuse crisis, particularly the Theodore McCarrick case, drew scrutiny. A 2020 Vatican report revealed institutional failures under previous popes, but Francis's initial reluctance to act decisively frustrated survivors and advocates.
Health challenges also marked his later years. In 2025, Francis was hospitalized for a serious respiratory infection, raising concerns about his ability to lead amid the Holy Year Jubilee celebrations. Despite stabilizing, his condition remained precarious, and he passed away on April 21, 2025, at Casa Santa Marta, marking the end of his papacy. Personal Traits and Interests
Francis was known for his simplicity and approachability. A polyglot fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Latin, with proficiency in German, French, Portuguese, English, and Ukrainian, he connected with diverse audiences. He enjoyed Italian neorealist films, opera, and literature by authors like Jorge Luis Borges and Fyodor Dostoevsky. A passionate football fan, he supported Buenos Aires's San Lorenzo de Almagro club.
In 2015, he released a progressive rock album, Wake Up! , featuring his speeches set to music, and in January 2025, he published a memoir, Hope , the first autobiography by a sitting pope. The book chronicled his life, faith, and papacy, emphasizing hope as a guiding principle. Legacy and Impact
Pope Francis's papacy reshaped the Catholic Church's global image, emphasizing mercy, inclusivity, and social justice. His reforms, while incomplete, addressed systemic issues like financial transparency and clergy abuse. His environmental advocacy positioned the Church as a moral voice in the climate crisis, and his interfaith efforts, including a historic meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in 2021, fostered dialogue across religions.
However, his tenure was not without division. Conservatives criticized his perceived leniency on doctrine, while progressives wished for bolder changes, such as women's ordination or married priests. His emphasis on a 'poor Church for the poor' challenged the institution to live its Gospel values, leaving a legacy of humility and service. Conclusion
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was a transformative figure whose life reflected the tensions of a global Church navigating modernity. From his roots in Buenos Aires to his final days in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, he embodied humility, compassion, and a relentless focus on the marginalized. His papacy, marked by historic firsts and bold reforms, will be remembered as a call to return to the Gospel's core: love, mercy, and justice.
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8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Raising school fees torments many Africans. Some expect the Catholic Church to do more to help
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A crying parent with an unpaid tuition balance walked into the staff room of a Catholic private school and begged the teachers to help enroll her son. The school's policy required the woman pay at least 60% of her son's full tuition bill before he could join the student body. She didn't have the money and was led away. 'She was pleading, 'Please help me,'' said Beatrice Akite, a teacher at St. Kizito Secondary School in Uganda's capital city, who witnessed the outburst. 'It was very embarrassing. We had never seen something like that.' Two weeks into second term, Akite recounted the woman's desperate moment to highlight how distressed parents are being crushed by unpredictable fees they can't pay, forcing their children to drop out of school. It's leaving many in sub-Saharan Africa — which has the world's highest dropout rates — to criticize the mission-driven Catholic Church for not doing enough to ease the financial pressure families face. Legacy of Catholic education across Africa The Catholic Church is the region's largest nongovernmental investor in education. Catholic schools have long been a pillar of affordable but high-quality education, especially for poor families. Their appeal remains strong even with competition from other nongovernmental investors now eying schools as enterprises for profit. The growing trend toward privatization is sparking concern that the Catholic Church may price out the people who need uplifting. Akite hopes Catholic leaders support measures that would streamline fees across schools of comparable quality. Firm fee ceilings need to be set, she said. Kampala's St. Kizito Secondary School, where Akite teaches literature, was founded by priests of the Comboni missionary order, known for its dedication to serving poor communities. Its students come mostly from working-class families and tuition per term is roughly $300, a substantial sum in a country where GDP per capita was about $1,000 in 2023. Yet that tuition is lower than at many other Catholic-run schools in Kampala, where many students report later in the term because they can't raise school fees in time, Akite said. Late starts, long lines, extension requests One of the most expensive private schools in Kampala, the Catholic-run Uganda Martyrs' Secondary School Namugongo, maintains a policy of 'zero balance' when a child reports to school at the beginning of a three-month term. This means students must be fully paid by the time they report to school. Tuition at the school was once as high as $800 but has since dropped to about $600 as enrollment swelled to nearly 5,000, said deputy headmaster James Batte. On a recent morning, there was a queue of parents waiting outside Batte's office to request more time to clear tuition balances. Daniel Birungi, an electrical engineer in Kampala whose son enrolled this year at St. Mary's College Kisubi, a leading school for boys in Uganda, said the emerging risk for traditional Catholic schools is to cater only to the rich. There is hot water in the bathrooms, he said, describing what he felt was a trend toward levels of luxury he never imagined as a student there in the 1990s. Now, students are prohibited from packing snacks and instead encouraged to buy what they need from school-owned canteens, he said. That has 'put us under a lot of pressure,' he said. Tuition at St. Mary's College Kisubi is roughly $800 per term, and Birungi doubts he will be able to regularly pay school fees on time. 'You can go there and see the brother and negotiate,' he said, referring to the headmaster. 'I am planning to go there and see him and ask for that consideration.' The effects of a private education system The World Bank reported in 2023 that 54% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa rank the issue of paying school fees higher than medical bills and other expenses. That's partly because education is largely in private hands, with the most desirable schools controlled by profit-seeking owners. Schools run by the Catholic Church are not usually registered as profit-making entities, but those who run those schools say they wouldn't be competitive if they were run merely as charities. They say they face the same maintenance costs as others in the field and offer scholarships to exceptional students. Regulating tuition is not easy, said Ronald Reagan Okello, a priest who oversees education at the Catholic Secretariat in Kampala. He urges parents to send their children to schools they can afford. 'As the Catholic Church, also we are competing with those who are in the private sector,' said Okello, the national executive secretary for education with the Ugandan bishops conference. 'Now, as you are competing, the other ones are setting the bar high. They are giving you good services. But now putting the standard to that level, we are forced to raise the school fees to match the demands of the people who can afford.' Across the region, the Catholic Church has built a reputation as a key provider of formal education in areas often underserved by the state. Its schools are cherished by families of all means for their values, discipline and academic success. In Zimbabwe, the Catholic Church operates about 100 schools, ranging from dozens in impoverished areas where annual tuition is as low as $150 to elite boarding schools that can charge thousands of dollars. But a legacy of inclusion is under pressure in the southern African nation due to fee increases at boarding schools and efforts by Catholic leaders to fully privatize some schools. Many boarding schools already charge tuition fees between $600 and $800, prohibitive for the working class in a country where most civil servants make less than a $300 per month. Privatization will raise tuition fees even higher, warned Peter Muzawazi, a prominent educator in Zimbabwe. Muzawazi, who attended Catholic schools, once was the headmaster of Marist Brothers, a top Catholic school for boys in Zimbabwe. That school in Nyanga is among those earmarked for privatization. 'I know in the Catholic Church there is a lot of space for reasonable fees for day scholars, but for boarders there is need to be watching because the possibility that they would be out of reach for the vulnerable is there,' he said. The church needs to be actively engaged, he said. 'How do we continue to guarantee education for the poor?' Efforts to privatize church-founded schools have sparked debate in Zimbabwe, which for years has been in economic decline stemming in part from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and others. Authorities say privatizing these schools is necessary to maintain standards, even as critics warn Catholic leaders not to turn their backs on poor people. 'Schools have now turned into businesses,' Martin Chaburumunda, president of the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers' Union, told The Manica Post, a state-run weekly. 'Churches now appear only hungry for money as opposed to educating the communities they operate in." Rather than privatizing old mission schools, the church should invest in building new ones if it's useful to experiment with different funding models, said Muzawazi, a lay Catholic who serves on the governing council of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. 'The bright people who advance the cause of countries are not the rich ones,' he said. 'We want every church and every nation to tap the potential of every person, regardless of economic status.' ___ Mutsaka reported from Harare, Zimbabwe. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
8 hours ago
Raising school fees torments many Africans. Some expect the Catholic Church to do more to help
KAMPALA, Uganda -- A crying parent with an unpaid tuition balance walked into the staff room of a Catholic private school and begged the teachers to help enroll her son. The school's policy required the woman pay at least 60% of her son's full tuition bill before he could join the student body. She didn't have the money and was led away. 'She was pleading, 'Please help me,'' said Beatrice Akite, a teacher at St. Kizito Secondary School in Uganda's capital city, who witnessed the outburst. 'It was very embarrassing. We had never seen something like that.' Two weeks into second term, Akite recounted the woman's desperate moment to highlight how distressed parents are being crushed by unpredictable fees they can't pay, forcing their children to drop out of school. It's leaving many in sub-Saharan Africa — which has the world's highest dropout rates — to criticize the mission-driven Catholic Church for not doing enough to ease the financial pressure families face. The Catholic Church is the region's largest nongovernmental investor in education. Catholic schools have long been a pillar of affordable but high-quality education, especially for poor families. Their appeal remains strong even with competition from other nongovernmental investors now eying schools as enterprises for profit. The growing trend toward privatization is sparking concern that the Catholic Church may price out the people who need uplifting. Akite hopes Catholic leaders support measures that would streamline fees across schools of comparable quality. Firm fee ceilings need to be set, she said. Kampala's St. Kizito Secondary School, where Akite teaches literature, was founded by priests of the Comboni missionary order, known for its dedication to serving poor communities. Its students come mostly from working-class families and tuition per term is roughly $300, a substantial sum in a country where GDP per capita was about $1,000 in 2023. Yet that tuition is lower than at many other Catholic-run schools in Kampala, where many students report later in the term because they can't raise school fees in time, Akite said. One of the most expensive private schools in Kampala, the Catholic-run Uganda Martyrs' Secondary School Namugongo, maintains a policy of 'zero balance' when a child reports to school at the beginning of a three-month term. This means students must be fully paid by the time they report to school. Tuition at the school was once as high as $800 but has since dropped to about $600 as enrollment swelled to nearly 5,000, said deputy headmaster James Batte. On a recent morning, there was a queue of parents waiting outside Batte's office to request more time to clear tuition balances. Daniel Birungi, an electrical engineer in Kampala whose son enrolled this year at St. Mary's College Kisubi, a leading school for boys in Uganda, said the emerging risk for traditional Catholic schools is to cater only to the rich. There is hot water in the bathrooms, he said, describing what he felt was a trend toward levels of luxury he never imagined as a student there in the 1990s. Now, students are prohibited from packing snacks and instead encouraged to buy what they need from school-owned canteens, he said. That has 'put us under a lot of pressure,' he said. Tuition at St. Mary's College Kisubi is roughly $800 per term, and Birungi doubts he will be able to regularly pay school fees on time. 'You can go there and see the brother and negotiate,' he said, referring to the headmaster. 'I am planning to go there and see him and ask for that consideration.' The World Bank reported in 2023 that 54% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa rank the issue of paying school fees higher than medical bills and other expenses. That's partly because education is largely in private hands, with the most desirable schools controlled by profit-seeking owners. Schools run by the Catholic Church are not usually registered as profit-making entities, but those who run those schools say they wouldn't be competitive if they were run merely as charities. They say they face the same maintenance costs as others in the field and offer scholarships to exceptional students. Regulating tuition is not easy, said Ronald Reagan Okello, a priest who oversees education at the Catholic Secretariat in Kampala. He urges parents to send their children to schools they can afford. 'As the Catholic Church, also we are competing with those who are in the private sector,' said Okello, the national executive secretary for education with the Ugandan bishops conference. 'Now, as you are competing, the other ones are setting the bar high. They are giving you good services. But now putting the standard to that level, we are forced to raise the school fees to match the demands of the people who can afford.' Across the region, the Catholic Church has built a reputation as a key provider of formal education in areas often underserved by the state. Its schools are cherished by families of all means for their values, discipline and academic success. In Zimbabwe, the Catholic Church operates about 100 schools, ranging from dozens in impoverished areas where annual tuition is as low as $150 to elite boarding schools that can charge thousands of dollars. But a legacy of inclusion is under pressure in the southern African nation due to fee increases at boarding schools and efforts by Catholic leaders to fully privatize some schools. Many boarding schools already charge tuition fees between $600 and $800, prohibitive for the working class in a country where most civil servants make less than a $300 per month. Privatization will raise tuition fees even higher, warned Peter Muzawazi, a prominent educator in Zimbabwe. Muzawazi, who attended Catholic schools, once was the headmaster of Marist Brothers, a top Catholic school for boys in Zimbabwe. That school in Nyanga is among those earmarked for privatization. 'I know in the Catholic Church there is a lot of space for reasonable fees for day scholars, but for boarders there is need to be watching because the possibility that they would be out of reach for the vulnerable is there,' he said. The church needs to be actively engaged, he said. 'How do we continue to guarantee education for the poor?' Efforts to privatize church-founded schools have sparked debate in Zimbabwe, which for years has been in economic decline stemming in part from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and others. Authorities say privatizing these schools is necessary to maintain standards, even as critics warn Catholic leaders not to turn their backs on poor people. 'Schools have now turned into businesses,' Martin Chaburumunda, president of the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers' Union, told The Manica Post, a state-run weekly. 'Churches now appear only hungry for money as opposed to educating the communities they operate in." Rather than privatizing old mission schools, the church should invest in building new ones if it's useful to experiment with different funding models, said Muzawazi, a lay Catholic who serves on the governing council of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. 'The bright people who advance the cause of countries are not the rich ones,' he said. 'We want every church and every nation to tap the potential of every person, regardless of economic status.' ___ Mutsaka reported from Harare, Zimbabwe.
Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Raising school fees torments many Africans. Some expect the Catholic Church to do more to help
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A crying parent with an unpaid tuition balance walked into the staff room of a Catholic private school and begged the teachers to help enroll her son. The school's policy required the woman pay at least 60% of her son's full tuition bill before he could join the student body. She didn't have the money and was led away. 'She was pleading, 'Please help me,'' said Beatrice Akite, a teacher at St. Kizito Secondary School in Uganda's capital city, who witnessed the outburst. 'It was very embarrassing. We had never seen something like that.' Two weeks into second term, Akite recounted the woman's desperate moment to highlight how distressed parents are being crushed by unpredictable fees they can't pay, forcing their children to drop out of school. It's leaving many in sub-Saharan Africa — which has the world's highest dropout rates — to criticize the mission-driven Catholic Church for not doing enough to ease the financial pressure families face. Legacy of Catholic education across Africa The Catholic Church is the region's largest nongovernmental investor in education. Catholic schools have long been a pillar of affordable but high-quality education, especially for poor families. Their appeal remains strong even with competition from other nongovernmental investors now eying schools as enterprises for profit. The growing trend toward privatization is sparking concern that the Catholic Church may price out the people who need uplifting. Akite hopes Catholic leaders support measures that would streamline fees across schools of comparable quality. Firm fee ceilings need to be set, she said. Kampala's St. Kizito Secondary School, where Akite teaches literature, was founded by priests of the Comboni missionary order, known for its dedication to serving poor communities. Its students come mostly from working-class families and tuition per term is roughly $300, a substantial sum in a country where GDP per capita was about $1,000 in 2023. Yet that tuition is lower than at many other Catholic-run schools in Kampala, where many students report later in the term because they can't raise school fees in time, Akite said. Late starts, long lines, extension requests One of the most expensive private schools in Kampala, the Catholic-run Uganda Martyrs' Secondary School Namugongo, maintains a policy of 'zero balance' when a child reports to school at the beginning of a three-month term. This means students must be fully paid by the time they report to school. Tuition at the school was once as high as $800 but has since dropped to about $600 as enrollment swelled to nearly 5,000, said deputy headmaster James Batte. On a recent morning, there was a queue of parents waiting outside Batte's office to request more time to clear tuition balances. Daniel Birungi, an electrical engineer in Kampala whose son enrolled this year at St. Mary's College Kisubi, a leading school for boys in Uganda, said the emerging risk for traditional Catholic schools is to cater only to the rich. There is hot water in the bathrooms, he said, describing what he felt was a trend toward levels of luxury he never imagined as a student there in the 1990s. Now, students are prohibited from packing snacks and instead encouraged to buy what they need from school-owned canteens, he said. That has 'put us under a lot of pressure,' he said. Tuition at St. Mary's College Kisubi is roughly $800 per term, and Birungi doubts he will be able to regularly pay school fees on time. 'You can go there and see the brother and negotiate,' he said, referring to the headmaster. 'I am planning to go there and see him and ask for that consideration.' The effects of a private education system The World Bank reported in 2023 that 54% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa rank the issue of paying school fees higher than medical bills and other expenses. That's partly because education is largely in private hands, with the most desirable schools controlled by profit-seeking owners. Schools run by the Catholic Church are not usually registered as profit-making entities, but those who run those schools say they wouldn't be competitive if they were run merely as charities. They say they face the same maintenance costs as others in the field and offer scholarships to exceptional students. Regulating tuition is not easy, said Ronald Reagan Okello, a priest who oversees education at the Catholic Secretariat in Kampala. He urges parents to send their children to schools they can afford. 'As the Catholic Church, also we are competing with those who are in the private sector,' said Okello, the national executive secretary for education with the Ugandan bishops conference. 'Now, as you are competing, the other ones are setting the bar high. They are giving you good services. But now putting the standard to that level, we are forced to raise the school fees to match the demands of the people who can afford.' Across the region, the Catholic Church has built a reputation as a key provider of formal education in areas often underserved by the state. Its schools are cherished by families of all means for their values, discipline and academic success. In Zimbabwe, the Catholic Church operates about 100 schools, ranging from dozens in impoverished areas where annual tuition is as low as $150 to elite boarding schools that can charge thousands of dollars. But a legacy of inclusion is under pressure in the southern African nation due to fee increases at boarding schools and efforts by Catholic leaders to fully privatize some schools. Many boarding schools already charge tuition fees between $600 and $800, prohibitive for the working class in a country where most civil servants make less than a $300 per month. Privatization will raise tuition fees even higher, warned Peter Muzawazi, a prominent educator in Zimbabwe. Muzawazi, who attended Catholic schools, once was the headmaster of Marist Brothers, a top Catholic school for boys in Zimbabwe. That school in Nyanga is among those earmarked for privatization. 'I know in the Catholic Church there is a lot of space for reasonable fees for day scholars, but for boarders there is need to be watching because the possibility that they would be out of reach for the vulnerable is there,' he said. The church needs to be actively engaged, he said. 'How do we continue to guarantee education for the poor?' Efforts to privatize church-founded schools have sparked debate in Zimbabwe, which for years has been in economic decline stemming in part from sanctions imposed by the U.S. and others. Authorities say privatizing these schools is necessary to maintain standards, even as critics warn Catholic leaders not to turn their backs on poor people. 'Schools have now turned into businesses,' Martin Chaburumunda, president of the Zimbabwe Rural Teachers' Union, told The Manica Post, a state-run weekly. 'Churches now appear only hungry for money as opposed to educating the communities they operate in.' Rather than privatizing old mission schools, the church should invest in building new ones if it's useful to experiment with different funding models, said Muzawazi, a lay Catholic who serves on the governing council of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. 'The bright people who advance the cause of countries are not the rich ones,' he said. 'We want every church and every nation to tap the potential of every person, regardless of economic status.' ___ Mutsaka reported from Harare, Zimbabwe. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
