Get to know the formative places that shaped Jorge Bergoglio on his way to becoming Pope Francis. During this 3-hour tour in Buenos Aires, you'll tour churches, schools and a sports club that each had an educational, religious and social influence on Pope Francis' early years. Transport in a comfortable minivan from San Telmo is included.

10:00 am: We will meet at Tangol Office in San Telmo area to kick off this 3-hour historical tour. Our first stop is Pope Francis' childhood home in the Flores area, where he lived with his parents and siblings. We will then move on to visit his school, the Instituto Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia, and the Jesuit Universidad del Salvador along with its church.

The tour continues to the Basílica de San José de Flores, where a 17-year-old Pope Francis went to confess, received his “divine call” and began serving the Church. As he said: “(at that exact moment) I immersed myself in God's mercy”. In this Church, Jorge Bergoglio decided to become a priest.

Next, we will continue following Jorge Bergoglio’s journey by seeing the Basílica de María Auxiliadora y San Carlos, where he was baptized. You’ll learn about the history of the place as well as get an unparalleled panoramic view of the San Lorenzo de Almagro football Club, which Pope Francis is a passionate fan of. We’ll visit the San Ignacio de Loyola Church in the Montserrat district, built by the Jesuits in 1675. It is in fact the oldest standing church in Buenos Aires and is also part of the historical-cultural complex ‘Manzanas de las Luces’.

Our next point of interest will be the Catedral Metropolitana located in the centre of the Plaza de Mayo. Built in the 16th Century, this is the main Catholic Church in Buenos Aires and was declared a historical monument in 1942. It is the Cathedral in which the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge Bergoglio, gave masses. It was also the place where the devout followers of Pope Francis gathered to hear if he would succeed Pope Benedicto XVI.

The tour ends in Plaza de Mayo at approximately 1pm.